Solar Power World January 2022

January 2022

www.solarpowerworldonline.com

Technology • Development • Installation

2022 TRENDS IN SOLAR

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10/12/2021 3:34:52 PM

THE FIRST WORD

A new year with old challenges and new opportunities This past year was one long lesson in resilience. We entered 2021 with many expectations of change, phasing out a president and bringing in another who promised monumental movement for green infrastructure. Mass distribution of COVID-19 vaccines set us on a track to combatting the virus, reopening our social lives and correcting massive supply chain issues that have wracked our industry and every other globally. Yet, we've reached this new year with those expectations swept out from under us.

Where does that leave us? For now, the answer is where the solar industry has always been: On our own.

Federal subsidies have certainly helped solar reach the scale that it has in the United States, but without the efforts of individual industry members — manufacturers and installers alike — we wouldn't be consistently outpacing fossil fuels in new electrical output on the grid. Perhaps we'll soon see passage of the Build Back Better Act — a necessary and long overdue effort to overhaul the country’s electricity makeup. But the solar industry has proved it can operate without major federal support.

In the last year, the industry has expanded its reach, optimizing established technologies, building symbiotic relationships with accessory technologies and enacting new policies Billy Ludt at a smaller but still Associate Editor impactful scale. bludt@wtwhmedia.com State legislators are @SolarBillyL @SolarPowerWorld introducing policies that enable community solar programs, which will give people who cannot physically install solar on their homes the opportunity to participate. Domestic solar module manufacturing is expected to double within two years as more companies open new

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facilities in the United States. Fossil fuel infrastructure, like coal mining operations, is shuttering, and developers are finding solar arrays to be one plausible construction option for those sites.

Meanwhile, solar is playing a major role in decarbonizing transportation. It’s an established pairing, but many solar contractors are adding electric vehicle charger installation services. Solar retains untapped potential in this space and will play an integral role in another major decarbonization effort in the future. Green hydrogen is a nascent technology in the United States and projects here are still in the pilot phase. A hydrogen fuel cell produces only heat and water vapor when expended, yet the electrified molecules can power vehicles, heavy machinery and infrastructure, and can act as energy storage, too.

Using renewable energy for green hydrogen production, which requires major amounts of electricity, is what makes it green. The BBB Act cites green hydrogen as a planned source for carbon-free energy. This is just one avenue of untapped potential for photovoltaic solar, in addition to everything else driving demand for solar installations. The BBB Act will undoubtedly spur major renewable energy developments in the United States and will be necessary for making it happen at scale when — or if — the legislation passes.

Regardless, solar will press forward. Demand for the technology remains at an all-time high, so with or without renewed federal subsidies, more solar will be installed. Solar is what’s trending. SPW

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CONTENTS

37

18

ON THE COVER

East-west solar panel orientation is becoming more popular thanks to new racking technologies that help maximize the number of panels in an array.

Photo courtesy of Jurchen Technology

2 FIRST WORD

8 NEWS BRIEFS

74 CONTRACTOR’S

76 2022 LEADERSHIP

120 AD INDEX

CORNER

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JANUARY 2022 • VOL 12 NO 1 w w w. s o l a r p o w e r w o r l d o n l i n e . c o m

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30

74

BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY

10 SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

30 STORAGE

Business software platforms tailored to the solar industry can help installers save time and money

POLICY 18 BUILD BACK BETTER

The climate provisions in Biden’s Build Back Better Act appear to have the highest potential for passage

INSTALLATION 24 CASE STUDY

With few ground-mount options in New York, developers site a massive community solar project on a rooftop

Yotta Energy says its panel-level batteries promise high efficiency and easy installation on commercial projects

38 PANELS

The latest updates on solar module import tariffs and other bans impacting this sector

43 MOUNTING

South-facing solar arrays may be the norm, but east-west projects come with their own benefits

48 INVERTERS

Meeting module-level rapid shutdown requirements is complicated on massive commercial rooftops

SPECIAL SECTION: 2022 TRENDS IN SOLAR

Clear trends take shape at the start of a new year in the solar industry, including domestic manufacturing expansion, online permitting progress and more. | PAGE 55

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FAST MOVING TECHNOLOGY

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The MC4 family of PV connectors are rated up to 1500 V UL, 70 A, and are available for 14 through 8 AWG cable configurations. Visit our website for a complete product portfolio, including in-line fuses UL rated up to 1500 V, to 30 A. Shop online: www.ecs-ecart.com Contact us today (707) 838-0530

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NEWS BRIEFS

SOLAR POLICY SNAPSHOTS A guide to recent legislation and research throughout the country.

California’s solar industry anxiously awaits two major policy decisions regarding licensing and net metering at the start of 2022.

California solar + storage licensing discussion continues with stakeholders

8

CPUC proposes highest solar fees in the nation

Sacramento, California

Sacramento, California

The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) held a virtual meeting on the licenses required to install solar + storage systems in the state at the end of November. The board will allow the solar industry and union electricians to determine new regulatory language by the March 2022 CSLB meeting.

On Dec. 13, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued its proposed decision on the successor to the state’s solar net-metering program. The solar industry is lobbying against its proposal, which includes grid access fees and lower net-billing compensation.

SOLAR POWER WORLD

JANUARY 2022

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NEWS BRIEFS

Illinois can expect solar boom as Adjustable Block Program reopens

Senate Finance Committee adds inverters, trackers to BBB manufacturing incentive list

Build Back Better Act thrown into question after Manchin statement

Chicago, Illinois

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

A new study found Illinois’s recently passed Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is expected to result in 250 MW of community solar in 2022 and pave the way for 5,800 MW of solar by 2030. The Adjustable Block Program with new, larger subsidies opened its waitlist in early December.

The Senate Finance Committee released its draft version of the Build Back Better (BBB) Act on Dec. 11 and added domestic manufacturing incentives for inverters and trackers to the lineup. SEIA has been working to get those technologies included in the bill.

The BBB Act requires the support of every Democrat in the Senate to pass, but Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said on Dec. 19 that he cannot vote to move forward on the act.

SEIA representatives in December said the group was still confident that members of Congress will continue to press ahead.

President Biden orders 100% carbon-free electricity purchases for federal operations

Solar advocates work with Duke Energy on new North Carolina net-metering program

Biden signs Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which could further affect solar supply chain

Washington, D.C.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Washington, D.C.

On Dec. 8, President Joe Biden signed an executive order calling for 100% carbonfree electricity purchases across federal operations by 2030, with a longer-term goal of net-zero emissions from overall federal operations by 2050. The Center for Biological Diversity called the timeline weak and asked for faster action.

Solar business and clean energy advocates signed an agreement with Duke Energy supporting the implementation of a new net-metering program in North Carolina. If approved by the NC Utilities Commission, customers will qualify for a direct rebate for installing solar.

President Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans all imports from Xinjiang, China, unless suppliers can prove the products were not made with forced labor. The ban should have a “modest” effect on the solar industry since it’s estimated that half of the world’s polysilicon supply comes from the Xinjiang province.

Florida legislature considers ending solar net metering

U.S. International Trade Commission recommends extension of solar tariffs

New Jersey governor sets new interim greenhouse gas reduction goal

Tallahassee, Florida

Washington, D.C.

Trenton, New Jersey

Florida Sen. Jennifer Bradley introduced SB 1024, which would “redesign” net metering to “avoid cross-subsidization of electric service costs between classes of ratepayers.”

Solar industry groups are asking lawmakers to reject the bill.

The U.S. International Trade Commission recommended an extension of Section 201 global safeguard tariffs on solar cells and modules on Nov. 24. President Biden now has discretion to take this recommendation into consideration and make a final decision.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order setting an interim goal for greenhouse gas reductions on the way to 80% by 2050. The new order establishes an early target of 50% below 2006 levels by 2030.

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JANUARY 2022

SOLAR POWER WORLD

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KELSEY MISBRENER | MANAGING EDITOR

Adobe Stock

SOLAR BUSINESS

SOFTWARE GUIDE FOR CONTRACTORS Solar contractors have many options when it comes to business software specific to the industry. The most comprehensive platforms try to integrate every step of the solar sales-to-installation process in one. Here are the popular choices on the market that cover most or all of the needs of solar contractors.

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Aurora Solar’s bread and butter is system design, but it also handles many other steps of the solar sales process. Installers will find robust site and electricity modeling, shading analysis and system design functions on this platform. Designers can drag and drop modules and BOS components into the software, or choose the automatic system designer.

Aurora conducts comprehensive checks to ensure systems are NEC compliant, including string sizing, inverter power, fire code setbacks and more. The platform also allows users to simulate energy production and generate loss diagrams to ensure the best system design.

BUSINESS

Aurora Solar

After a design is done, teams can generate customizable sales proposals including multiple financing options. Users can then submit shade reports for rebates and export the diagrams needed for permitting approval.

WHAT SETS IT APART: “One platform for all your needs from lead capture to sales proposal, use of AI-driven automation, accuracy and world-class customer support team.”

COST: Aurora is a monthly or annual subscription-based software with multiple plans. The most popular is the annual premium subscription $220/user/month.

FEATURES: Lead generation and tracking Project design Proposal generation Permitting Financing Monitoring Other: Battery storage and backup sizing, API integration, sales quotes, contract management

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JANUARY 2022

SOLAR POWER WORLD

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BUSINESS

ENACT’s Envision and Engage Enact Systems brings two different apps to the table — one for the solar business owner and one for the solar customer. The Envision platform is the backend database for companies. Teams use Envision to upload leads and view a live project dashboard. Project managers can then use high-resolution satellite images to create residential or commercial layouts, and analyze energy output for solar or storage projects.

Envision features a 3D shading mode to help visualize project designs before tying it all together in a custom proposal or contract. This step includes detailed billof-materials with line-item pricing and can integrate different financing structures like loans, leases or PPAs. The platform also lets owners generate forms and collect electronic signatures.

After the sale, the team can view analytics within the Envision app and onboard customers to the Engage app for their personal monitoring.

WHAT SETS IT APART: “Our Envision proposal software generates complete 3D layouts of solar with shading (with storage option), electric rate analysis, pricing and BOM details for a full proposal, which is highly customizable. We have an integrated workflow module for project management and documents, crucial for scale-up of the operations team.”

Energy Toolbase Energy Toolbase makes the list for its advanced solar + storage proposal capabilities. This software could help installers looking to expand their solar + storage businesses.

ETB can quickly model time-of-use rates and energy storage.

The software can also precisely calculate utility costs, energy savings and project economics thanks to its in-house utility rate team. Once the calculations are complete, contractors can choose from a library of customizable templates or create their own from scratch.

WHAT SETS IT APART: “ETB Developer is the solar and energy storage industry's most intelligent

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COST: Three levels of subscriptions, the lowest option costing $239/month for up to three users.

FEATURES: Lead generation and tracking Project design Proposal generation Permitting Financing Monitoring Other: Separate customer app for tracking performance, open to all inverter and storage brands (with installer’s logo)

project modeling tool and the only tool with an in-house utility rates team to ensure the utmost accuracy in your financial analysis of projects. The software includes robust cashflow capabilities within transactions and incentives for your projects and can model projects in any state or market.”

COST: $150/month for one user, with the monthly price decreasing as number of users increases.

FEATURES: Lead generation and tracking Project design Proposal generation Permitting Financing Monitoring Other: Storage integrations with industry’s leading hardware vendors to model any equipment or storage system

www.solarpowerworldonline.com

BUSINESS

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Shape Shape is a general sales customer relationship management (CRM) service that now offers a solarspecific sales platform. The solution’s lead database includes functions like automatic follow-up and other custom triggers. E-signatures can be collected directly from the app. Unique from other solutions, Shape lets teams handle marketing projects like automated drip campaigns and e-newsletters.

Installers can also schedule appointments like site surveys or client meetings from the app.

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WHAT SETS IT APART: “All-in-one solar sales software solution without the need to purchase or integrate any other software. Proposal tool, dialer, e-signature, texting, lead management, advertising, client portal and over 100 other features all in one system.“ COST: $99/month per user.

FEATURES: Lead generation and tracking Project design Proposal generation Permitting Financing Monitoring Other: Lead scoring, lead advertising, client portal, prioritization, dialer, texting

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BUSINESS

Sighten Sighten’s CRM system allows contractors to create lead profiles with easy address lookup that pulls data from utilities, incentives, local weather and typical energy usage. Contractors can then make quotes for cash or any supported financing option, along with a side-by-side savings comparison. Next, they can generate a customizable solar proposal featuring tax credits, rebates, feed-in tariffs and more.

When the homeowner is ready to sign, contractors can email documents directly to the customer for e-signature. All sales and install documents are centralized in the program.

COST: Base subscription is $199 per month for unlimited users.

FEATURES: Lead generation and tracking Project design Proposal generation Permitting Financing Monitoring Other: CRM, project management, storage, efficiency, EVs, documents, E-Signature, APIs, C&I Solar

When it’s time for installation, Sighten helps teams track all project tasks, approvals and operations until completion.

WHAT SETS IT APART: “Sighten is the only truly comprehensive solar software platform — one login for your solar business from lead to design to installation.

In addition to solar, we support modeling of nonsolar products including storage, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles. Sighten also integrates leading financing programs to make it easy to qualify and close deals from within the Sighten platform.”

Solargraf Solargraf features a simple interface that’s reminiscent of other team management platforms like Google Drive.

Company owners can create roles and permissions for the whole staff, import leads and view active projects on a dashboard.

The software can generate customizable quotes using shading analysis data as well as mounting type, roof pitch and panel angle information from the company’s proprietary algorithm. In the proposal, contractors can also offer multiple product and pricing options.

Once the project is sold, contractors can offer financing through Solargraf’s partners, order permits directly through their account and more.

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WHAT SETS IT APART: “Solargraf is extremely easy to learn and use, no designer needed. Solargraf uses the latest in HD imagery to generate slick and comprehensive quotes in a few simple clicks, while offering full remote sales capabilities and a robust list of features including shading analysis and shade reports, proposals with “good, better, best” options, simple financing and permit orders making it a one-stop shop for installers looking to speed up their sales and quoting workflow, while also taking care of the post-sale process.”

COST: Featherweight plan starts at $229/month paid yearly. Welterweight starts at $345/month paid yearly and Heavyweight plan starts at $459/month paid yearly. Custom/ enterprise solutions are also available.

FEATURES: Lead generation and tracking Project design Proposal generation Permitting Financing Monitoring Other: Shade report orders, proposal orders as a service

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NAMED №1 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SUBCONTRACTOR.

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Baker has become one of the nation’s most influential full-service solar contractors. You can count on us to be here for the life of your business.

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We instill confidence with our bestin-class utility analysis, exceptional construction management, and preventative maintenance offering.

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1

BUSINESS

SolarSuccess SolarSuccess is a single database that integrates many steps in the solar business cycle and allows third-party application integration for anything that might be missing. Installers can manage accounting, inventory and project progress from the dashboard.

Team members can view instant updates on projects, view costs, sales, project timelines, status updates and more from the platform. Project milestones can automatically trigger accounting functions within the software. Users can forecast supply chain costs and view real-time equipment availability and pricing information for selected suppliers.

SolarSuccess also offers solar-specific project templates for interacting with financiers and storing documents.

COST: Volume pricing applies with module nuances, but a blended price is $70 to $140/user per month.

FEATURES: Lead generation and tracking Project design Proposal generation Permitting Financing Monitoring Other: Sales/CRM, project management, accounting, inventory management, asset management, service management, team collaboration

WHAT SETS IT APART: “SolarSuccess is the most complete business management software for solar installers. The largest number of supportive integrations are supported, including drone, solar proposal, real estate data, HOA data, AHJ data and more.”

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291 SPW Ad.indd 1

12/21/21 10:50 AM

KELSEY MISBRENER | MANAGING EDITOR

THE BUILD

BACK BETTER ACT COULD TRANSFORM

THE SOLAR INDUSTRY Domestic solar manufacturing credits, a stand-alone storage ITC and a refundable residential ITC are just a few of the many solar-related provisions in the bill.

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POLICY THE

most comprehensive piece of federal legislation to help grow the solar energy industry is working its way through the Senate.

The Build Back Better Act (BBB) would benefit nearly every sector of solar. Small residential systems would become more affordable to more people via extended tax incentives and refundability options, developers would have new incentive options for larger projects and the entire industry could soon source more non-tariffed solar components from the United States thanks to new domestic solar energy manufacturing tax credits.

The BBB requires the support of every Democrat in the Senate to pass. Although Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said on Dec. 19 that he cannot vote to move forward on the current version of the act, SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper said in a member update that the organization still believes strongly that members of Congress will continue to press ahead.

“While the exact timing of action is unclear, we anticipate that the Senate will return in January with a renewed sense of urgency,” Hopper said.

Climate and solar provisions are among the least controversial parts of the bill, according to SEIA’s VP of public affairs, Dan Whitten. President Biden expressed the same sentiment in a Jan. 19 speech where he advocated for breaking the package up and focusing on passing the climate provisions first since they have clear support, according to Reuters.

The act’s potential impact on the solar industry can’t be overstated. Erin Duncan, SEIA's VP of congressional affairs, said it would create long-term business certainty for the solar industry.

"We're an industry that is poised to provide the foundation for the future of what the energy mix looks like in this country," Duncan said. "This bill creates a level for us to do that and create a container of certainty for our companies to make the types of investments that we have long wanted."

A December “U.S. Solar Market Insight” report found the BBB would bring cumulative solar capacity in the United States to over 300 GW — triple the amount of solar deployed today.

As of mid-January, here’s what’s in it.

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JANUARY 2022

SOLAR POWER WORLD

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POLICY

BBB HIGHLIGHTS: •

•

•

•

•

•

20

Extension of commercial ITC (Sec. 48) » 30% full value if projects meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, 6% base credit if not » Phases out when annual greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production in the United States is less than or equal to 25% of 2021 emissions levels, or in 2031, whichever comes later Addition of stand-alone non-residential storage ITC (Sec. 48) » 30% full value if projects meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, 6% base credit if not » Phases out when annual greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production in the United States is less than or equal to 25% of 2021 emissions levels, or in 2031, whichever comes later Addition of commercial PTC option » $25/MWh full value if projects meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, $5/MWh base credit if not » Phases out when annual greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production in the United States is less than or equal to 25% of 2021 emissions levels, or in 2031, whichever comes later Extension and refundability of residential solar ITC (Sec. 25D) » 30% through the end of 2031; 26% in 2032; 22% in 2033 » Refundable after 2023 Addition of stand-alone residential storage ITC (Sec. 25D) » 30% through the end of 2031; 26% in 2032; 22% in 2033 » Refundable after 2023 Domestic solar manufacturing tax credits » Specific credits for different components, including:  PANELS: thin-film and silicon PV cells (4¢/WDC), wafers ($12/ m2), solar-grade polysilicon ($3/kg) and fully assembled thinfilm and silicon modules (7¢/WDC)  INVERTERS: central inverters (>1 MW capacity): 2.5¢/ WAC, utility inverters (>170 kW, ≤1 MW capacity): 1.5¢/ WAC, commercial inverters (≥20 kW, ≤170 kW capacity): 2¢/ WAC, residential inverters (≤ 20 kW capacity): 6.5¢/WAC and microinverters (≤ 650 W capacity): 11¢/WAC  TRACKERS: torque tubes: 87¢/kg, longitudinal purlins: 87¢/ kg and structural fasteners: $2.28/kg » Credits increased by 10% if the final assembly of components is at a facility operating under a union-negotiated collective bargaining agreement » Credits will begin to phase out to 75% in 2027, 50% in 2028, 25% in 2029 and disappear completely after 2029

SOLAR POWER WORLD

JANUARY 2022

Large-scale solar + storage provisions BBB would bring the commercial ITC (Sec. 48) back to 30% from the phased-down 26%, but with some stipulations — developers must meet prevailing wage requirements (the hourly wage and benefits paid to the majority of workers within a particular area, which is usually the union wage) and apprenticeship requirements to receive the full tax credit. If those prerequisites aren’t reached, only a 20% ITC can be collected.

This bill creates a level for us to...create a container of certainty for our companies to make the types of investments that we have long wanted.

For the first time in years, commercial solar projects could also qualify for a 10-year Production Tax Credit (PTC) worth $25/MWh. Prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements must still be met to claim the full amount.

SEIA believes the prevailing wage requirements won’t be an issue since installers already make at or above that minimum requirement in most states.

“I’m sure it will require adjustment in some communities — that’s always inevitable — but in lots of markets, we’re already there now,” Duncan said.

The apprenticeship requirement is a bit more complicated. Developers would be required to host a defined number of apprentices per job who are part of apprenticeship programs that are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.

As it stands, most such programs are unionaffiliated.

“I think that is the place where we probably have the deepest learning curve, because we just never had a requirement like that and it’s not as straightforward as looking at a giant

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index and making sure you’re keeping your record-keeping on pace correctly,” Duncan said.

SEIA is working to determine which existing solar apprenticeship programs could meet those requirements, for example, through industry training organizations like Solar Energy International (SEI) and NABCEP. SEIA is also working with the legislature to ensure that if there aren’t enough apprentices in a region, there’s clarity to move forward without penalty.

“This is going to be an area of just massive work and growth. I think it’s also really exciting because the end result is going to be we have a lot of brand-new solar workers, if we do it the right way,” she said.

After meeting those stipulations, developers can choose whether to collect the PTC or ITC for projects — but not both. Duncan said these additional options would make the industry more competitive.

“This is going to be an energy still led by private industry. We’re going to transition the economy and we’re going to be led by competitive businesses striving to bring the American public the best possible value,” Duncan said.

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Commercial solar tax credits in the BBB are set to phase out when annual greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production in the United States is less than or equal to 25% of 2021 emissions levels, or in 2031, whichever comes later.

This structure makes it clear the priority is lowering emissions — if the 25% level is reached in a year after 2031, the credit would not begin to phase out until then.

In addition to the PTC and ITC, bonus credits would be available for meeting other criteria. A bonus 10% credit is applied if domestic content requirements are met, and another 10% if the project is located in an “energy community,” meaning a census tract or adjoining census tract where a coal mine has closed after Dec 31, 1999. According to a 2013 report by the NAACP, people who lived within three miles of a coal power plant have an average per capita income of $18,400, which is lower than the U.S. average of $21,587. These communities stand to benefit greatly from zero-emission solar power.

“The focus on opportunity broadly, between provisions for LMI communities, the overall focus and centering of communities...I think that is really smart and just very bold,” Duncan said.

JANUARY 2022

Finally, the BBB would also allow large-scale solar developers for the first time to claim a stand-alone storage ITC — something SEIA has been pushing for years.

Before this bill, storage had to be paired with solar to receive an ITC, and a battery could only take advantage of the solar ITC if it was at least 75% charged directly from the PV asset it was paired with for five years. That meant the paired batteries couldn’t perform many of the additional demand arbitrage functions they were capable of, lest they forfeit the ITC. The act’s standalone storage ITC would allow batteries to receive credit for their full potential at the same rate as solar systems, as long as prevailing wage requirements are also met.

Residential solar benefits Big projects wouldn’t be the only kind boosted by the BBB. The residential ITC (Sec. 25D) would also be expanded and extended to 30% for 10 years. After 2031, it would phase down by 4% yearly until 2034. Residential batteries would also be included in the tax credit, as standalone products.

According to SEIA, the credit would be claimed when an installation is placed in

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POLICY

service — when power is flowing. Installations placed in service after the bill’s passage would be eligible for the 30% credit.

A new and impactful element the BBB would bring to residential solar credits is refundability. Environmental justice organizations have pushed for this aspect of the ITC, citing the challenges lower-income earners with limited or no tax liability face in benefitting from existing federal incentives. Refundability allows low-income families to receive the benefit even if they don’t owe enough to pay taxes — they can opt to receive a check rather than a tax write-off for their installation the following year.

“By including 25D [tax credit] refundability in the Build Back Better Act, Washington now has an opportunity to ensure that middle- and low-income families — no matter where they live or how much they earn — can power their homes with clean, affordable energy sources,” said Residential Renewables for All, a coalition that lobbied for refundability, in a statement.

The residential ITC would be refundable after 2023 if the BBB passes — the time before then presumably used to set up the logistics to execute it.

Domestic manufacturing incentives After years of reactive tariff battles with China, the United States has decided to be proactive and incentivize domestic solar component manufacturing in the BBB. Most provisions from Sen. Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act made it into this latest version of the BBB, including specific credits for thin-film and silicon PV cells (4¢/WDC), wafers ($12/m2), solar-grade polysilicon ($3/kg) and fully assembled thin-film and silicon modules (7¢/ WDC). The Senate Finance Committee also added inverters and trackers to that list in its version of the BBB. The credits are increased by 10% if the final assembly of components is at a facility operating under a union-negotiated collective bargaining agreement.

The manufacturing credits will begin to phase out to 75% in 2027, 50% in 2028, 25% in 2029 and disappear completely after 2029.

SEIA is confident BBB’s manufacturing incentives would bring the U.S. solar supply chain back to the states.

“We have so much to offer our country as an industry,” Duncan said. “It’s such an exciting time, and we are an industry that’s going to grow in an unprecedented way over the coming years. This bill will help us reach that growth faster and with more tools at our disposal, particularly around domestic manufacturing.” SPW

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Long Island factory sites 10 acres of community solar on the roof 24

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Island, New York, is home to almost 8 million people. It’s a narrow land mass that stretches 100 miles into the Atlantic Ocean and has been developed from its westernmost end that touches New York City to its easternmost hamlet of Montauk.

For that reason, the land on the New York peninsula is highly valued. Solar contractors trying to install sizable arrays in the region must look elsewhere. Specifically, they look up.

Local solar contractor SUNation Solar Systems installed a 1.78-MW project on the commercial rooftop of Karp Associates’ manufacturing facility in Melville — the largest solar project on a rooftop in Long Island. Karp is an American manufacturer of industrial access doors and roof hatches. Even with the scale of this project, SUNation completed contracting to commissioning in record time.

"A project of that size could take two years to mature — two to three years just to get to where we're sold," said Scott Maskin, CEO of SUNation. "This was done in 90 days. We were in contract, on the job."

Initial discussions for the project started in September 2019, with SUNation signing the construction contract three months later in December. It helped that Karp had prepared for the transition and had a history of enacting energy efficiency practices. The manufacturer had already invested in lighting upgrades and geothermal heating at the facility, along with recycling shipping materials and using no-emission paints in its manufacturing.

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Preparation proved vital in constructing this rooftop array. Everyone involved in the project, including SUNation's design, processing and engineering teams, met with utility PSEG Long Island. It was one of the first actions taken in the development to identify the challenges of putting the array on the grid.

"The client goal right off the bat was to maximize their roof space," said Jason Nendza, director of sales, engineering and project management at SUNation. "Even with the size of the building, the design itself enhanced it."

Karp Associates approved removing obstructions on the roof, taking away units that would have reduced the number of panels on the array. Rooftop gas lines were relocated to the perimeter of the building, too.

INSTALLATION

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Left to right: Thomas Falcone, CEO of Long Island Power Authority, and Scott Maskin, CEO of SUNation Solar Systems.

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INSTALLATION

“So, with that, we were really able to dive in, and I'd be surprised if somebody could fit another module up there right now," Nendza said.

The Karp Associates building has two roof sections. The first original rooftop is made of conventional TPO roofing material.

SUNation installed most of the array on that section, totaling 3,456 ballasted panels. The second section is an addition that stands 40ft tall with a metal standing-seam roof. The remaining 972 panels are attached to that section.

The array is comprised of LG 405-W and 400-W modules paired with Yaskawa Solectria PVI TL string inverters in 60-, 50and 36-kW models, each rated at 480 V. The racking used on the TPO roofing is the TGR ballasted system from TerraGen Solar. The standing seam section used TerraGen’s TGP flush mount paired with S-5! clamps.

The building has a border of access roads, and SUNation was able to gate off the eastern section of the street to set up a working area. Using a 12-ton telehandler, installers hoisted materials to the roof from the street and were able to move alongside the array as it was built out, which was helpful because it took nearly three minutes to walk from one end of the roof to the other.

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"Just in terms of when you're thinking about the sheer size of it, it takes a while to get from one place to another with the equipment," Nendza said.

Despite the size of the array and its unique status as a community solar project, SUNation didn't encounter many hurdles for permitting from the town. The greater concern was the feeder study from the utility. While in the planning phase, the potential

We specifically look for those projects that are going to keep our economy here strong. array underwent a series of screenings to determine what equipment would be required for tie-in and communications.

That concern was increased when COVID-19 shutdown orders were issued. SUNation ceased construction on the Karp Associates solar project for several months before returning.

Then, after starting back up, the installers encountered issues with the communication services on the array and utility PSEG Long Island.

"We were shut down for a couple of months, but it was more than that, because the client made a significant investment in this project and midway, we were shut down," Maskin said.

"If you go back to the COVID days, everybody was scrambling for payroll protection and all kinds of stuff.

Nobody really knew when this was 28

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going to end. Even though we were only shutdown for 13 weeks, the following four, five, six months was all like, ‘OK, what's it going to be? Is my business going to remain open?’ And these are questions for Karp, for SUNation, for everybody."

But SUNation emerged on the other side, and construction was completed in early 2021 with the system receiving permission to operate in August.

SUNation is currently the only contractor in the PSEG Long Island utility territory with community solar projects running through its Value of Distributed Energy Resource program.

The company owns and manages about 5 MW of community solar projects in Long Island. Community solar is important to decarbonizing the region because more than half of the ratepayers reside in places where individual arrays cannot be installed, Maskin said.

The array installed at Karp Associates is being managed by the manufacturer under the name Helios Solar. The facility can handle an estimated 175 off-takers, based on average energy consumption.

As an installer, SUNation focuses its solar construction efforts in the region it’s based in. The company has completed 7,500 solar projects and continues to

build out the Long Island area. Maskin said they’re already planning similar solar projects to the one at Karp Associates — including one that is double the size.

“That’s really holistic and super important in our mission at SUNation that what we do is so hyper-focused on the local economy,” he said. “As opposed to out-of-country developers that are just coming in and signing feed-in tariffs and some power purchase agreements, and all those revenue dollars are shipped off Long Island. We specifically look for those projects that are going to keep our economy here strong.” SPW

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TECHNOLOGY ALTHOUGH

energy storage adoption is accelerating in the residential and utility-scale markets, installing batteries on commercial-sized solar projects is not always an easy process. There’s usually a concern about space — whether there’s enough room to site a large battery at ground-level or if it’s safe to house enough storage capacity in a special room inside a building.

The ability to add-on storage as utility rate programs change is also not as straightforward when it comes to permitting and the location of commercial storage projects. The market depends on specialized engineering companies to get solar + storage projects sited.

Yotta Energy is trying to change that. First making news in 2018, the panel-level storage company is going through realworld testing and finally plans to launch its SolarLEAF product in Q2 2022. SolarLEAF is a 1-kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery that sits behind solar panels while also acting as ballast. If solar installers are familiar with microinverters, power optimizers or other module-level power electronics

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(MLPEs), they can attach a SolarLEAF battery. And since it’s a high-functioning MLPE itself, no additional permitting is needed to add panel-level energy storage.

With the upcoming product launch, Solar Power World talked with Yotta Energy CEO Omeed Badkoobeh about the SolarLEAF’s functionality in the commercial solar market.

SPW: Why has Yotta Energy focused on the commercial solar market?

Badkoobeh: We’ve been in a deep dive in this market for four years now. We understand all the pain points and hurdles. The biggest competition today for any energy storage is doing nothing. Most customers are requesting energy storage, and most developers and installers want to talk customers out of energy storage. Energy storage is extremely complex.

You have very specialized companies that exist today that are hyper-focused on energy storage. They have moved to only doing really large systems because of cost factors and because they can’t replicate it from building to building.

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Our theory is very much like modulelevel power electronics in general. They weren’t less costly than inverters, they just provided more value because of simplification. We do the same thing for energy storage. We bring more value because of the overall simplification. If you’re a C&I installer and you can deploy solar and you can install a ballast block, you now can install energy storage. That’s how simple we make it.

Why did you choose lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) for the SolarLEAF’s battery chemistry?

We’ve been big on LFP from Day 1, before it became extremely popular. It is far safer than any other form of lithium battery, and the cycle life is higher. The downsides of LFP compared to NMC or NCA is that it’s slightly heavier because

of less specific energy, but that was part of our direction of going into the C&I market where our battery serves as a ballast weight.

We’ve been big on LFP from Day 1, before it became extremely popular. It is far safer than any other form of lithium battery, and the cycle life is higher.

Why did you decide on a standard 1-kWh offering?

We have our unique thermal technology [which maintains batteries at their preferred working temperature range (70-100°F)], but it does take a bit of space and mass, so we wanted the product to be at a point in which it can easily be carried by a single installer and be mounted.

In order to do that, the limitations we settled on was 1 kWh. It’s also very easy to design. When you’re looking at how to design storage, it’s easy to say

you need 50 SolarLEAFs for 50 kWh. We have our roadmap and are working on higher-capacity units. We’re very aggressive on driving down costs, and one of the quickest ways to do that is to make a higher-capacity unit for our nextgeneration products.

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You’re offering a Dual Power Inverter with the battery, essentially a white-labeled APsystems dual-module microinverter.

APsystems is our OEM partner. They build the microinverters for us on their platform very specific to our needs. We call it the Dual Power Inverter because it’s designed to work interchangeably with both any PV module and our storage device. You can deploy a project today with just the inverters and we call it storage-ready. Then you can come back at any point and add energy storage.

We’re very big on the microinverter architecture because it’s also a safety thing. Given the fact that the entire system is low voltage, it’s very safe relative to a high-voltage DC string system. The barriers for microinverter entry into C&I have always been cost, but we’re in the market today with this inverter at a price point we think is highly valuable and brings a lot of value against taking a string inverter and then having to add rapid shutdown devices.

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If you’re using a dual-module microinverter, does each SolarLEAF battery also work with two solar panels?

We design the SolarLEAF to take two inputs of a module.

Where it gets tricky is the landscape of modules is everchanging — one moment 450 W is the peak, the next you have 650 W. We work with every standard module today with the exception of some high-voltage 96-cell modules.

Where does the battery sit in the project’s wiring?

It’s a DC-coupled system. We call it PV-coupled. The battery sits between the PV module and the microinverter input. The batteries absorb straight from the PV module.

[DC-coupling] is the highest efficiency because you’re only converting DC to AC one time. We’re using the same inverter as the PV module, whereas most energy storage today is AC-coupled. You’re not going back and forth between DC and AC and having losses.

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Is Yotta Energy a battery company or an MLPE company?

We see ourselves as more of a technology company. I think to be successful in today's market, you need to provide a solutions-based approach.

The days of the installers and developers having to deal with multiple vendors to solve the same problem or solution are diminishing. They hate having to buy an inverter from this company, battery from this company, rapid shutdown device from this company. We see ourselves very much morphing into being a technology leader in this C&I market.

I think to be successful in today’s market, you need to provide a solutions-based approach.

You’re often compared to JLM Energy’s failed panel-level storage product from a few years ago. What makes Yotta Energy more successful?

Tesla was the third company to attempt electric vehicles. Any new technology takes a well-thought-out team and careful execution and timing. We had been developing our technology way ahead of the announcement of the JLM battery. We always knew that you have to prove the physics of how this battery can last on a rooftop. If you can’t do that, there’s no point of pushing this product out yet. That’s the reason why other MLPE companies maybe haven’t attempted this format. We worked really hard over the last three years of perfecting this thermal technology that makes this product a reality. SPW

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KELLY PICKEREL • EDITOR IN CHIEF

Tariffs on imported solar panels: The latest hill on the solarcoaster It’s been a dizzying last six months for solar panel importers keeping track of which tariffs are in play. Just as the country was closing out four years of Section 201 tariffs on imported solar panels, a petition was sent to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) requesting an extension. While data was being gathered on that, a group of anonymous solar manufacturers asked the Dept. of Commerce to slap new tariffs on imports coming from certain Southeast Asian countries.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) got in on the fun by banning certain silicon products coming from China’s Xinjiang province, a decision that has prevented solar panels from reaching ports. Meanwhile, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) can’t stick to a decision on whether bifacial solar panels should be exempt from any tariffs.

Here's an update on the three major areas of uncertainty on imported solar panels and where tariffs and bans stand today.

This being the solarcoaster, things may change by the time Solar Power World goes to press. Make sure to follow us on social media and at solarpowerworldonline.com for the most up-to-date tariff news.

Section 201 tariffs: Waiting on extension decision, including bifacial exclusion In 2018, the Trump Administration, via suggestions from the ITC, placed tariffs on imported crystalline silicon PV cells and modules based on Section 201 of the 1974 Trade Act. The original tariffs were on a four-year step-down schedule: 30% tariff in 2018, 25% in 2019, 20% in 2020 and 15% in 2021. The first 2.5 GW of imported solar cells were tariff-free each year, a number that was never reached.

Bifacial modules were initially excluded from the tariff because there was no significant domestic manufacturing capacity of the specialty product. As bifacial modules started showing up in more utility-scale projects, domestic panel manufacturers claimed that their exemption was undermining the objectives of the original safeguard measure (which was to prop up U.S. solar manufacturing). The Trump administration removed bifacial's exemption in 2020 and increased the overall tariff drop-down rate for 2021 to 18%.

In a surprise decision, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) reinstated bifacial modules’ exemption from the tariffs in

Billy Ludt, Solar Power World

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PANEL TECHNOLOGY

November 2021 and pushed the final year of tariffs back to 15%, with refunds available.

As things stand today, Section 201 tariffs are scheduled to end in February 2022.

After being petitioned to extend the tariffs and listening to testimonies during a virtual hearing, the ITC recommended in late November 2021 that the Section 201 tariffs on imported solar cells and modules be extended for another four years, on a new step-down schedule through 2025. President Joe Biden now holds the final decision on an official extension.

No tariff news had been announced by press time. The original Section 201 tariff decision came through on January 22, 2018. Industry financial advisory firm Roth Capital Partners has suggested the extension will pass and the bifacial exemption will be removed (again).

WRO on Hoshine silicon + Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act: Still in effect, still disrupting market CBP released a Withhold Release Order (WRO) in June 2021 on silicon-based products made by Hoshine Silicon Industry Co., located in China’s Xinjiang province, as a reaction to allegations of companies in the Xinjiang region using forced labor. Specifically, Hoshine makes industrial silicon that other Chinese polysilicon firms source to make solargrade polysilicon. The WRO banned any solar panel product containing Hoshine materials from entering the United States.

It’s been estimated that around 80% of the world’s polysilicon supply comes from China, with nearly half coming out of the Xinjiang province.

Initially, solar industry regulation experts estimated the bans would have little effect on U.S. solar operations.

CBP identified about $6 million in direct

imports of Hoshine material to the United States and about $150 million linked to other solar equipment using Hoshine material in the last year. Meanwhile, the United States imported more than $8 billion in solar cells and modules in 2020.

But the reality since June has been different.

Roth Capital Partners indicated in August 2021 that solar panels from JinkoSolar, Canadian Solar and Trina Solar had been detained by CBP. All three companies have major panel manufacturing operations in China and supply the U.S. utility-scale market.

LONGi, the world’s largest solar panel supplier, issued force majeure notices to customers, indicating it will stop shipping to the United States until the WRO is resolved. The company has had module shipments detained, although LONGi has established a product sourcing mechanism and does not use Hoshine materials.

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Even “small” detentions of imported modules that then turn out to not use Hoshine materials disrupt supply chains and the global installation market. Rystad Energy has predicted supply chain issues to threaten 50 GW — or 56% — of the global utility PV developments planned for 2022. Utility-scale solar installers stated in 2021 press conferences that U.S. solar projects were experiencing delays, either because of fewer module imports due to unknown tariff results or because module suppliers were startled by the WRO detentions.

As the WRO is not a ruling discussed by a convening board, it will be in effect until the Biden Administration removes it.

The President also signed into law in December the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) that bans all imported materials (not just solar products) from the Xinjiang region that is confirmed to use forced labor.

UFLPA leads with a “guilty until proven innocent” presumption and will be effective starting in June 2022. If companies cannot provide “clear and convincing evidence” that their products are not made with forced labor, they’ll be banned from entering the United States.

tariffs ranging from 50 to 250% on panel imports coming from the three countries — an area that supplied 80% of U.S. crystalline silicon solar module imports in the first half of 2021.

AD/CV duties have been in place against Chinese solar manufacturers since 2012. A-SMACC wanted a deeper look into specific Chinese companies, including Astronergy, Boviet Solar, Canadian Solar, GCL, JinkoSolar, JA Solar, LONGi, Sunergy, Talesun and Trina Solar, working in the three mentioned countries.

In 2015, Commerce completed a similar investigation into Chinese solar companies shifting production of solar cells to Taiwan to avoid the antidumping tariffs, and the department did find the Taiwan operations at fault and extended tariffs to the country. A-SMACC in

2021 asked for an investigation into specific companies rather than the whole countries, but since the business dealings of the anonymous petitioners are unknown, Commerce rejected the petition because it did not meet the requirements of the Tariff Act of 1930 to disclose information publicly.

So, while various AD/CV duties still exist on solar panels coming from China, no additional tariffs have been placed on products coming from other countries.

The anonymous petitioners involved in A-SMACC can refile with Commerce if they reveal their names and business dealings. No individual petitions had been announced by press time.

Solar Power World will continue keeping a close eye on import tariff developments in 2022. SPW Billy Ludt, Solar Power World

AD/CVD on solar panels coming from Southeast Asia: Denied for now In August 2021, a group of anonymous U.S. solar manufacturers (collectively known as the American Solar Manufacturers Against Chinese Circumvention, or A-SMACC) filed a petition with the Dept. of Commerce asking for an investigation into certain Chinese solar panel manufacturers allegedly circumventing existing antidumping and countervailing (AD/ CV) duties by moving portions of their operations to Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

While Commerce considered taking on the petition, the U.S. solar installation community predicted major job losses if excessive tariffs on imported solar panels delayed or altered utility-scale project plans. A-SMACC requested additional

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MOUNTING TECHNOLOGY

BILLT LUDT • ASSOCIATE EDITOR

East-west solar projects maximize the number of panels on an array The sun shines from southern skies in the Northern Hemisphere, and for that reason, fixed-tilt solar systems are conventionally installed in a south-facing orientation in the United States to receive maximum yield per-panel.

Yet, there are arguments for installing solar in an east-west, or dualtilt, orientation when sites are closer to the equator, have location constraints, experience high winds or are in a utility territory with time-of-use rates.

South-facing solar arrays have a single plane of modules per panel row that are pointed south; east-west arrays lay at least two modules back-to-back to form a peak, with each panel pointing east or west. This orientation is used on both ground-mounted and flat rooftop solar projects.

Interest in east-west solar racking is currently greater internationally, but manufacturers are seeing more east-west projects being deployed in southern states and U.S. territories closer to

the equator or on projects with site constraints, like commercial rooftops.

More solar panels per site A common feature among east-west racking is the ability to install a higher density of solar modules in the same footprint as a south-facing array. By creating a pitched structure by laying two modules in succession, there are fewer aisles between panel rows on a site, and in certain racking models, east-west panel rows can be installed consecutively to form blocks.

Whatever energy loss an east-west array experiences can be recovered by its extra module count, especially if it’s located closer to the equator. The further south a project is, the higher the sun will be in the sky throughout the year, meaning more exposure for an eastwest array.

No two east-west racking systems are the same, but they all result in greater panel density per site.

“As panel prices drop and as energy storage becomes more common, the ground itself is going to be an increasingly expensive part of the system," said Scott Van Pelt, chief engineer at GameChange Solar. "What do you do to absolutely maximize your [ground-coverage ratio]?"

Van Pelt and other manufacturers believe east-west racking is the answer.

Conventional south-facing groundmounted solar arrays have rows that are installed two panels high. With racking like GameChange Solar's MaxSpan EastWest, two sets of long-span racking structures are installed back-to-back with a lower slope. Each set of racking holds modules three or four high, including at least six panels per row.

German manufacturer Jurchen Technologies offers an east-west option through its PEG line of solar foundations.

The proprietary mounts use rebar and accessory plates as foundations and install at a lower profile than conventional

A rendering of GameChange Solar’s MaxSpan EastWest ground-mount racking.

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solar racking. PEG EW is installed in blocks, with single modules placed in landscape in consecutive pitches. There are fewer aisles on the overall array but enough headspace underneath for panel access and vegetation maintenance.

There’s also greater panel density — Jurchen Technologies claims it has 225% more land yield than conventional arrays.

Austrian racking manufacturer Aerocompact recently debuted CompactGROUND G+, a ground-mount racking solution with a design informed by its CompactFLAT rooftop racking. While it doesn’t use the same racking or fastener, G+ does have a similar appearance to the CompactFLAT and other east-west racking found on flat rooftops. With a ground clearance of just 40 cm (about 16 in.),

Jurchen Technology’s eastwest ground-mount solar solution, PEG EW.

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CompactGROUND offers a low-profile option for east-west ground-mounted solar and attaches using scaled-down ground screws and ballast blocks that are found on rooftop projects.

East-west arrays in the United States are more commonly found on flat rooftops. Like ground mounts, dual-tilt racking can put more panels on the roof than south-facing arrays.

In regions where undeveloped land isn’t plentiful, commercial rooftops are viable sites to generate megawatts of solar. Any additional output is crucial.

"I think you see it way more often when you have a really tight, spaceconstrained roof and you need to fit as much module wattage on that roof as humanly possible because there's no inter-row space or it's very minimal," said Chris Berg, commercial solutions manager at Unirac. "There's not a lot of wasted area on a roof when you go to a dual-tilt system."

New Mexico solar racking manufacturer Unirac offers an eastwest system for commercial rooftops called RMDT. It’s installed using modules instead of guiding rails as a spacing template and secures to the roof with ballast or optional roof attachments.

Aerocompact’s CompactFLAT S10+ east-west racking also uses ballast. The system is composed of three main components, including a base structure designed to adapt to the contours of a commercial rooftop.

Nils Wollenberg, VP of product management and operations at Aerocompact, said east-west systems are difficult to install on smaller rooftops with many obstructions.

If one panel can fit but the other cannot because of an obstruction, both would have to be removed in a double-module design.

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But another advantage east-west systems have on commercial rooftops is when the building itself is off azimuth.

"As you start getting off [azimuth] a bit more, you start getting the east-west system to cover a much wider range, and they actually get some production benefit the larger ‘off’ that azimuth it gets," said Tristen Foley, product manager at Unirac. "So, when you start seeing those nontraditional buildings, it's nice to pivot to this type of solution."

A wind-resistant, utility-friendly racking These east-west projects — both on the ground and roof — are installed at shorter heights than south-facing arrays. The lower angling of the consecutive modules and shorter height means wind passes over and through the array. On southfacing arrays, there is greater wind resistance blowing against the backside of those modules.

"Logically, it makes sense that an east-west system is going to have slightly lower wind loads than conventional fixed-tilt systems," Van Pelt said. "A conventional fixed-tilt system facing south, if you’re in the U.S., winds from the north are going to stall behind the panels and increase your negative pressures on the panels. On this system where you have two arrays back-to-back, wind coming from the underside of one side of the tent will basically almost skip off the opposite side of the tent. There’s still some suction on the leeward side, but you end up with a meaningful reduction in your governing wind pressures."

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East-west systems see steadier overall output throughout the day rather than the spike in production at midday found in south-facing arrays. At a component level, this means avoiding inverter clipping, which is when an inverter receives more electrical input than it's designed to process.

Some utilities in states like New York and California have time-of-use (TOU) rates where electricity costs more during certain times of the day, like in the evening. If a south-facing array is producing most of its power at noon when a residential customer isn't home, then it’s not providing power at critical TOU hours. East-west arrays maintain a steady current of power throughout the day, including during peak hours.

"Your peak production is less than a south-facing system, but you have a broader window of power-producing time," Berg said.

East-west solar layouts may generate less power per panel, but the ability to squeeze more panels into these orientations leads to higher overall production than south-facing arrays. Incorporating more panels on a single racking structure means it’s cheaper than conventional racking, too.

East-west or dual-tilt racking is a viable and economic solar structure choice for developers when they need to fit as many solar panels on a site as possible. SPW

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KELSEY MISBRENER • MANAGING EDITOR

Evergreen Energy chose SolarEdge optimizers and inverters for this installation at the Medline Manufacturing Facility in Connecticut.

How to simplify module-level rapid shutdown on huge commercial roofs Adding module-level power electronics (MLPE) to residential rooftop solar projects to comply with the latest rapid shutdown requirements may not typically add too much time or labor to installations. But that rooftop safety requirement isn't just for residential homes — commercial rooftops require the same treatment.

C&I installers these days install rooftop projects in sizes comparable to their ground-mount counterparts — for example, PowerFlex recently completed the country's current largest rooftop community solar project, clocking in at 9.2 MW. The team had to install one rapid shutdown device (RSD) for every two of the 22,320 solar modules on the roof.

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But PowerFlex wasn't daunted when NEC 2017 created that requirement. The company had already started installing SolarEdge power electronics on its commercial rooftop projects before that time. The string-inverter-plusoptimizer solution gave designers more flexibility for maximizing PV coverage on irregular roof surfaces — ensuring that if any modules experience shading or limited performance from dust and grime buildup, the rest of the array isn’t affected.

"When you're freed up as a designer to have multiple string lengths because of the inherent flexibility in optimizer technology, that's a big advantage,"

said Pete Vash, technical director for PowerFlex. "When optimizers became available to the marketplace, folks who were doing commercial roofs were very interested in them even before there were rapid shutdown requirements just because of the improved production and the design flexibility."

Once NEC 2017 was adopted by many jurisdictions, SolarEdge optimizers fit the requirements of lowering voltage to 80 V or less within 30 seconds.

PowerFlex is technology-agnostic, but these days, the company uses SolarEdge for most systems.

"We had something that was working and we were able to continue with the

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Summit Ridge Energy’s 9.2-MW rooftop solar project was installed by PowerFlex.

same sort of design that we had," Vash said. "They've been a good partner for PowerFlex and they've supported projects during the commissioning process, so there's good synergy there."

Along with optimization, SolarEdge touts the safety benefits of its inverter solution. If any installation errors are made, SolarEdge says its temperaturesensing software will catch it.

"Our technology has that modulelevel visibility that we can see. We can even see a blown bypass diode on the module. We can see that there's a fault. We have sensors that are detecting it, they're reporting it, and that means people can fix it," said Carolyn Humphreys, C&I sales manager for Eastern North America at SolarEdge.

SolarEdge also stands by its offering for the foundational architecture.

Instead of distinct entities set up to work together as an afterthought, its technology is part of one cohesive system.

"We feel there's a huge advantage to having everything integrated as a system from a single vendor," said Jason Bobruk, director of code compliance at SolarEdge. "And we also maintain the

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reliability and robustness of that system through our quality control programs, and all of this philosophy translates into our certification approach too. When we certify a rapid shutdown system, we certify as a whole, entire system — [that] includes the optimizers, includes the inverters, even includes the little DCdisconnect enclosure with the switch on it."

Struggles of streamlining shutdown Whatever an installer’s rapid shutdown equipment choice may be, installing hundreds or thousands of additional components on a project comes with its inherent downsides. It takes more time to prep all the gear, install each unit and commission them. Perhaps the bigger headache, though, is the added O&M stress when adding in many extra potential failure points in a project.

"Adding optimizers may result in unexpected costs when you're running an operating asset," said Matt Cote, senior procurement manager at PowerFlex. "Even if the components hypothetically have a 0.1% failure rate, when you're deploying thousands of them, it does add up

over time and potentially causes a lot of different challenges."

Tigo Energy is another major MLPE manufacturer that's UL-certified as a rapid shutdown system with numerous inverter brands. The company recently announced an inverter of its own as well. Tigo offers three variations of rapid shutdownsatisfying MLPE — standalone RSD, RSD plus monitoring and RSD plus monitoring and optimization. Since pricing is ultracompetitive in C&I projects, Tigo's chief marketing officer James Dillon said most installers currently choose RSD alone to save the extra $10 or so per unit.

"That is a shame, because that is a trade-off between [operating expenses] and cost — how much work do you want to put in up-front vs. the longterm operation and maintenance? I believe that we need to do a better job explaining the value and having a great software solution that the installers will get the most out of," he said.

Illinois-based GRNE Solar installs commercial projects across the Midwest, where some permitting offices are still using the 2014 NEC. The companywide stance is that safety comes first, so GRNE believes module-level rapid shutdown should be implemented regardless of the area's code adoption. The company has run into some pushback on that philosophy from developers.

"The cost increase for the material and installation can be a significant adder to a project's overall budget. When considering a competitive RFP, it is not always an apples-to-apples comparison when rapid shutdown is not included on every contractor’s bid submission," said Jeremy Hoerauf, commercial project manager for GRNE Solar, in an email.

Another common problem is it's sometimes unclear who's responsible for O&M for the lifetime of these commercial projects, Tigo’s Dillon said. If it's not the installer, they have even less incentive

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INVERTER TECHNOLOGY

to opt for the more-costly monitoring solution. But he expects the presentfocused nature of the market to shift as rapid-shutdown-enabled systems begin to age.

"The bill doesn't come due until a few years in, so if someone is having problems with installations they did three, four, five, eight years ago, they're going to learn from that and build it into the future," Dillon said.

Connector conundrum Another stressor that surfaces when adding hundreds of additional components between the module and inverter is the hundreds of additional PV connectors required to install them. At this time, there is no universal standard for PV connectors, but the latest code requires all connectors used on a product to be the same — either made by the same manufacturer or UL-tested to be compatible. This means companies are often scrambling to source enough

connectors from one maker, with varying results.

"It might sound like that's a trivial matter, but can you imagine if all USBs were not created equal and every laptop had a slightly different-sized connector?" Vash said.

GRNE expressed the same complaint after running into some connectors that aren't compatible with either its selected modules or rapid shutdown units.

"What we’d like to see from rapid shutdown manufacturers is a standard connector that works for any module manufacturer," Hoerauf said. "With the industry moving toward each module manufacturer having their own connector, the rapid shutdown suppliers must standardize the connector and get it approved for all modules."

The installer has also noticed the module industry is moving toward shorter wire leads, so the RSD makers need to start creating longer leads to connect to them. These logistical issues may seem small but can lead to cumbersome delays that harm business.

The bill doesn’t come due until a few years in, so if someone is having problems with installations they did three, four, five, eight years ago, they’re going to learn from that and build it into the future.

GRNE installers work on a large commercial rooftop project.

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Simplifying MLPE offerings Since the rapid shutdown requirement is relatively fresh, new products and advancements are rolling out quickly to satisfy the need. Cote said the major pain point he hopes manufacturers will address is the complexity of companies having to source and install different components from multiple makers.

Package deals with pre-assembled components and integrated RSDs can save installation teams time on-site.

"If companies on the supplier side are innovating and working together to make something that is just a full package for a company like us, that would be super beneficial and would take out a lot of the guesswork and the headaches around designing," he said.

But that kind of collaboration is not easy in an industry where technology is rapidly changing.

"The challenge with that is there's so many different options out there," Tigo’s Dillon said. "We actually are compatible with hundreds of inverter options — you have to do it with each and every size at each and every manufacturer. It's an endless upgrade battle."

So Tigo is pursuing a different route to simplify their devices for installers. Engineers are working to condense their MLPE into one device and use hardware to enable the different functions rather than offer the attributes of RSD, monitoring and optimization in three different devices.

That hardware-enabled device would also eventually, ideally, receive other updates digitally.

"That would make it even easier — if you could put one piece of hardware and say, 'I want optimization on this half of the building, and on this half I just need rapid shutdown because there's no chance of shade,’” Dillon said.

As a relatively new requirement, module-level rapid shutdown wrinkles are still being ironed out, especially on large-scale commercial rooftop projects. In the meantime, installers will have to keep learning best practices as they go to make both installation and ongoing maintenance as easy as possible. SPW

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TRENDS IN SOLAR W R I T T E N BY B I L LY LU D T, KE L S E Y M I S B R E N E R A N D KE L LY P I C KE R E L

As the solar industry enters another pandemic year, innovations in products, markets and policies promise to save installers time and money.

Although supply chain issues linger due to continued market uncertainty, the industry can find hope in new panel manufacturing announcements, solar installations taking the place of coal mines and many more positive themes.

Read about the trends the SPW editorial team is seeing at the start of 2022 in the pages that follow. And keep an eye on solarpowerworldonline.com for the latest news on solar products, projects and more.

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2022 TRENDS IN SOLAR

SOLAR INSTALLATIONS INCREASINGLY TAKE THE PLACE OF COAL MINES The United States is reprioritizing where it sources its energy. Over the last 13 years, the country has shuttered more coal mines than it has opened. As of 2020, there were 551 mines in the United States (out of that group, 37% of them idled operations) compared to more than 1,200 active mines in 2008.

What remains after coal extraction makes site conditions difficult for redevelopment, but contractors are finding luck replacing the fossil fuel operations with solar arrays. Utility-scale solar developers are already planning and constructing arrays across coal communities. Savion is developing a state-sanctioned, 200-MW solar project on a former coal mine in Kentucky; Competitive Power Ventures has a 127-MW project under development in Pennsylvania and another 175-MW project in Maryland; J-POWER USA and Birchwood Solar are developing a 50-MW solar + storage project at a former coal plant in Virginia.

Then anticipating the energy shift, Michigan utility Consumers Energy announced in June its plans to cease coal use by 2025.

“It’s a transition of power. You’re using something that was a previous generation of technology and you’re adapting that to what is the future,” said Michael Faraone, director of engineering at Terrasmart.

Terrasmart, a turnkey solar structure manufacturer and civil services provider, has several projects on the docket that will cover coal mining operations. The company has a reputation for producing ground-mounts that perform in difficult soil conditions, a common issue

among former coal sites. The process of extracting coal leaves behind mine tailings, a mixture of different soils and rocks pulled from the earth that has low compaction, like fill dirt, and makes it difficult for developing that land for residential or commercial purposes.

Unlike landfills and certain brownfields, the ground can be penetrated at coal sites, giving installers more options than ballast foundations. However, there are additional considerations required for determining a former coal site’s compaction rate.

More than a quarter of the country’s coal is produced in the Appalachian region, where many of these solar projects are sited. In early 2021, a coalition of groups from Appalachia issued a report with plans to redevelop abandoned coal mines and brownfields in six states with solar.

“Though this past year has presented many challenges, we’ve seen communities in Appalachia continue to drive toward economic diversification with creative and innovative reclamation projects,” said Adam Wells, regional director of community and economic development with Appalachian Voices in a press release.

The coalition expects more coal companies to file bankruptcy and abandon operations from the economic pressures of COVID-19. As of October, 241 coal-fired power plants are on track to be decommissioned.

With both the extraction sites and power plants for coal disappearing, it’s up to renewables to replace and repower sites that were once economic drivers for many communities.

It’s a transition of power.

You’re using something that was a previous generation of technology and you’re adapting that to what is the future.

Pexels

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2022 TRENDS IN SOLAR

COMMUNITY SOLAR POLICY GETS GREEN LIGHT IN MANY STATES Community solar is a unique market segment that requires state policy for development, and 2021 was a watershed year for community solar policymaking.

The passage of enabling policy is necessary due to the structure of community solar projects. Instead of having one off-taker, community solar arrays can have many subscribers, from organizations to individuals.

Community solar developers typically set up agreements with utilities, governed by state policy, that allow subscribers to receive monthly utility bill credits for electricity generated by their share of the solar project.

In 2021 alone, four states in the Midwest and Rust Belt introduced community solar-enabling legislation, while other states from coast to coast passed bills or expansions of existing programs.

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Ohio: HB 450 under consideration, would open community solar market.

Wisconsin: LRB 1902 under consideration, would open community solar market.

Michigan: HB 4715-16 under consideration, would open community solar market.

Pennsylvania: SB 472 under consideration, would open community solar market.

New Mexico: SB 84 signed into law, opened the state's community solar market.

New Jersey: The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is converting its Community Solar Energy Pilot Program into a permanent program by February 2022.

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Policymakers and the solar industry must think critically about solutions like these to ensure low-wealth communities do not get left behind in the clean energy transition.

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Maryland: The Maryland Public Service Commission voted to expand the capacity of the state’s community solar program as well as improve access for low- and moderate-income (LMI) customer participation.

Delaware: SB 2 updated the existing community solar statute to require that each community solar project serves at least 15% LMI customers.

States are enacting policy provisions to guarantee a certain amount of community solar subscriptions are dedicated to LMI communities that could most benefit from lower electric bills and clean energy. Last year, Vote Solar released

a guide to increasing community solar access and adoption in low-income communities, including instituting automatic enrollment in community solar programs through qualification for another government program, such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

“Policymakers and the solar industry must think critically about solutions like these to ensure lowwealth communities do not get left behind in the clean energy transition,” said Olivia Nedd, Vote Solar’s policy director of the Access & Equity Program, in a press release.

Community solar is a fast-growing segment with unique governmental oversight that can help ensure it's available to everyone. According to

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SEIA and Wood Mackenzie's latest Solar Insight Report, 3.4 GW of community solar was installed cumulatively through Q2 2021. That number is expected to increase to 8.3 GW by 2026.

This boom was made possible in part by the recent flourishing of bipartisan support for community solar. Across the Midwest and elsewhere, conservative Republican leaders are supporting and even introducing this type of enabling legislation, in conjunction with groups like the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA).

"There's a lot of learning that's taking place with Republicans on this issue.

As the landscape changes and prices come down, this technology becomes more competitive on its own as trends start to move and states want to create homegrown industries that are going to endure for the next decades," said Matt Hargarten, campaigns director for CCSA. The federal government sees great value in community solar too. An NREL report found community solar can lead to substantial bill savings, from 5 to 25%. In October 2021, the Dept. of Energy set a target of community solar powering the equivalent of 5 million households by 2025.

To reach this federal goal, DOE is offering free technical assistance to community solar stakeholders, such as state, local and Tribal governments, solar developers and other organizations working to grow this market.

“Community solar is one of the most powerful tools we have to provide affordable solar energy to all American households, regardless of whether they own a home or have a roof suitable for solar panels,” said Sec. Jennifer Granholm, in a statement. “Achieving these ambitious targets will lead to meaningful energy cost savings, create jobs in these communities, and make our clean energy transition more equitable.”

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RESIDENTIAL SOLAR INSTALLERS GET VERSED IN EV CHARGERS Residential solar paired with smart home offerings has become ubiquitous over the years for many national solar installers. If homeowners can access their pet’s automatic feeders through an app, then they of course expect to see their solar generation on a small screen, and be able to actively interact with it in conjunction with their smart electronics and home battery systems. Solar installers can set up those processes for the homeowner, so it makes sense for them to jump on the next smart energy product: electric vehicle chargers.

EV ownership is expected to accelerate with the inclusion of tax breaks in the Build Back Better Act. Households that purchase a new electric car would receive a $3,500 tax credit ($4,500 if the vehicle is made in the United States). Used EVs (at least two years old) get a $2,000 credit. Of course, this is if the BBB Act passes as written.

Various surveys have found that solar owners are more likely to have an EV and vice versa. That’s why many national solar installers are getting into the EV charger market now; either to upsell solar customers or encourage those wanting EV chargers to consider going solar.

SunPower has formed a strategic alliance with Wallbox, where SunPower customers can install a Wallbox EV charger at the same time as their solar and/or storage system, and SunPower acts as the preferred solar, storage and EV charger installer for Wallbox customers.

Sunrun also worked out an exclusive deal with Ford when the motor company announced its all-electric F-150 Lightning truck in May 2021.

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2022 TRENDS IN SOLAR

The F-150 Lightning, which can also serve as emergency home backup, needs a charging station and home integration system, both of which will be installed by Sunrun dealers.

Like the SunPower/Wallbox relationship, Sunrun will have the opportunity to encourage Ford owners to go solar + storage at the same time as the EV charger install.

ChargePoint, operator of the largest network of EV chargers in North America, inked its own deal with Sunnova. While this deal doesn’t come with the exclusive installation rights, this relationship does offer Sunnova solar customers the option to install the country’s most trusted and universal charging station.

“EVs in the home increase annual energy demand from 50 to 100%, depending on the owner’s charging behavior. By bundling a solar system and an EV charger in a single purchase, Sunnova is allowing customers to properly size and install the right energy solution for all their needs,” said Michael Grasso, executive VP at Sunnova, in a press release. “And with ChargePoint software embedded in their personal Sunnova portal, customers will benefit from car charging optimized for their Sunnova home energy ecosystem.”

Big-named solar companies continue to work toward being that one-stop shop for homeowners’ smart energy needs, now including EV charging in the equation.

EVs in the home increase annual energy demand from 50 to 100%, depending on the owner’s charging behavior.

INVERTER MANUFACTURERS ADD IN-HOUSE BATTERIES FOR SEAMLESS PAIRINGS As residential battery demand continues to grow due to state incentives for systems and the need to aid the grid during extreme weather, more inverter manufacturers are getting in the game. Companies including Enphase, SolarEdge and Tigo Energy have started producing residential batteries of their own for seamless technology pairings.

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Enphase released its residential Encharge battery in 2020 (now called the IQ battery), but rolled out its advanced hybrid microinverter in 2021. The company's grid-forming IQ8 microinverter has been highly anticipated by the industry for its ability to island a home in the daytime even without storage. But paired with the company's battery, the microinverter is even more powerful.

“The Ensemble SolarEdge system is so compelling because it’s an all-in-one solar + storage system from a single company, which means perfect component compatibility, a single point of contact for service and support, and a management platform that controls the entire system,” said

Michael Pane, owner at Synergy Solar, in a press release.

Enphase's AC-coupled battery solution uses lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and comes in 10.1-kWh and 3.4-kWh capacities. There are no sizing restrictions when pairing these batteries with IQ8 microinverters, so full-home backup is a possibility for those willing to spend the money.

In the string inverter arena, SolarEdge released its first residential battery solution in Fall 2021. The DCcoupled lithium-ion SolarEdge Energy Bank provides 9.7 kWh of backup power and can be connected in parallel for up to nine total batteries. The company simultaneously released its new Energy Hub inverter models that can connect wirelessly to SolarEdge batteries and other smart energy devices, such as the SolarEdge Home EV Charger.

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2022 TRENDS IN SOLAR

The new battery and inverter line are part of SolarEdge's full residential solution called SolarEdge Home, which is controlled from the mySolarEdge mobile app.

“The need for reliable home backup power has never been greater,” said Peter Mathews, general manager of SolarEdge, North America, in a press release. “We developed an integrated solar and battery solution that allows for simpler and faster installation time and enables homeowners to power more of their everyday lives with clean, renewable energy.”

Tigo also recently entered the hybrid inverter + storage space after focusing solely on MLPE since its formation in 2007. The company's new Energy Intelligence (EI) Inverter and Battery product lines are designed by Tigo, but manufactured by unnamed partners.

Tigo's LFP EI Battery systems are rated at 9.9 kWh of energy per enclosure and can scale up to 40 kWh, with four enclosures per inverter. The system is managed through the Tigo EI mobile app that diagnoses issues and allows for remote software upgrades.

“With the addition of the battery and inverter products, we now offer a comprehensive solar + storage system that maintains the flexibility and choice our customers have come to expect from Tigo,” said Zvi Alon, CEO at Tigo Energy, in a press release.

It's not easy to add an entirely new product to a manufacturer's lineup. Other major residential inverter makers like SMA, Fronius and CPS America are still focusing on making inverters and certifying their compatibility with outside battery manufacturers. But if the vertical integration trend continues, that may change in the near future.

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EVERYONE WANTS TO START A SOLAR PANEL FACTORY IN THE UNITED STATES The U.S. solar manufacturing industry, which today can supply fewer than 8 GW of assembled modules if each facility is pumping at full volume, could almost double within two years — if every company that claimed in 2021 it was starting a new factory follows through.

Fueling the Gold Rush-like dash to the modulethirsty U.S. region (with annual demand over 30 GW, the country is desperate for untariffed, domestic modules) is the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America (SEMA) Act, as included in the Build Back Better Act (BBB). Even though the Act has not yet passed, just the hint of manufacturing support led companies to announce their plans to make solar panels in the United States. The suggested federal legislation would provide tax credits to American manufacturers at every stage of the solar panel manufacturing supply chain, from production of polysilicon to solar cells to fully assembled solar modules.

Credits to manufacturers included in the current draft version of BBB: • solar-grade polysilicon ($3/kg) • PV wafers ($12/m2) • thin-film and silicon PV cells (4¢/WDC) • thin-film and silicon PV modules (7¢/WDC)

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The credits would begin to phase down to 75% for product sold in 2027, 50% in 2028 and 25% in 2029, before disappearing completely thereafter.

With savings like that, there’s no reason the domestic market won’t explode with manufacturing activity, probably even more than the list of “maybes” announced in 2021.

Established solar powerhouses last year revealed their loose plans to enter the U.S. manufacturing market: Maxeon is contemplating up to 3 GW of cell and panel assembly stateside, Meyer Burger chose Arizona for a 400MW facility and REC is considering 1 GW. Then there are the new names: Philadelphia Solar (a module maker from Jordan) claims it’s shopping a site for 1 GW, newbie Ubiquity Solar plans to open a 350-MW solar cell facility in New York and NanoPV (an Asian company that makes 100-W a-Si thinfilm modules) wants to open a plant in Georgia with an unknown capacity.

Watching what actually pans out over this next year will be interesting.

Virtually unknown, NanoPV said it only needs $36 million to start a plant in Georgia that will support 500 jobs.

Maxeon, meanwhile, applied for a DOE loan to support its manufacturing plans and has repeated the goal of starting solar panel production in 2023.

Each of these announcements is likely dependent on the BBB Act passing with solar manufacturing credits intact. We’re still awaiting a final vote.

“The bipartisan support for the domestic production of solar infrastructure has encouraged us to contribute to the energy independence and sustainability of the country,” said Ardes Johnson, president of Meyer Burger Americas, when its plans were first announced in September 2021. “It is of vital importance for the U.S. to expand the domestic supply chain and break away

from its heavy reliance on Asia. We are pleased to be able to contribute to this important goal and are ready to serve the rapidly increasing demand for clean energy.”

The tax credits would also give a boost to existing domestic manufacturers, leading to possible manufacturing capacity expansions.

Minnesota and Florida-based panel assembler Heliene welcomes new players to the U.S. market to enhance domestic supply.

“We are all saying we need a local/ regional supply chain; however, it will not happen unless investors can have a horizon clear enough to ensure there is a possible return on their investment, going from polysilicon, ingot, wafer, cell and module production,” said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. “A possible reimbursable tax credit would support a return on investment on existing and new manufacturing lines, as well as expanding up or down the solar value chain.”

Meyer Burger

The bipartisan support for the domestic production of solar infrastructure has encouraged us to contribute to the energy independence and sustainability of the country.

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WE HAVE YOU COVERED.

2022 TRENDS IN SOLAR

Pexels

SOLAR PERMITTING IS FINALLY MOVING ONLINE The shift to online solar permitting started before the pandemic, but lockdown and distance orders added urgency to the movement. Contractors had been asking for relief from the extensive paper forms and long waits in the permitting office, and NREL delivered. The lab launched the online permitting solution SolarAPP+ nationwide in July 2020, and since the Biden Administration took office, the Dept. of Energy has put its full weight behind it.

This past fall, Sec. Jennifer Granholm wrote an open letter asking all U.S. mayors to adopt SolarAPP+ to speed the solar permitting process and help reach the administration's robust climate goals, which include reaching 40% solar energy in the nation's mix by 2035.

“Until now, obtaining permits to install solar can take days, weeks or even months in some parts of the country, and can be a complex and costly process,” Granholm wrote. “At a time when we are using technology to create life-saving vaccines, connect with colleagues and family virtually and explore outer space, it seems implausible we are still shuffling paper to process applications for solar permits.”

She set a goal last year to get 125 communities to sign up to learn more

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about SolarAPP+ by September 30.

Since its launch in July, the SolarAPP+ tool has processed over 2,700 residential solar permits across 12 jurisdictions and saved customers an estimated 12 business days from the time of project submission to the jurisdiction’s final inspection, according to NREL. Nine communities are piloting the SolarAPP+ permitting for energy storage systems with over 200 permits processed so far.

NREL and Accela released a study on two major localities that have found success in SolarAPP+. Pima County and Tucson, Arizona, reportedly saved more than 1,000 hours of permit processing time and sped up the install process for contractors and customers.

“The City of Tucson and Pima County take climate change seriously and believe that all communities must play a part in creating a better, healthier planet for future Arizonians,” said Carla Blackwell, Pima County's director of development services, in the report.

“SolarAPP+ represents a clear next step for communities like mine to make the immediate, affordable and necessary changes within our pre-existing systems to fight climate change.”

A study by NREL researchers in the Energy Policy journal found instant online solar permits are associated with shorter sign-submit and submit-approve

JANUARY 2022

durations, and found no evidence of adverse downstream impacts from these advancements.

SolarAPP+ is free for AHJs, but contractors pay a standard price per application to maintain the system and fund continuous updates, in addition to the fees charged by AHJs. The SolarAPP+ platform also plans to publish data on permitting practices nationwide to help streamline the costs from city to city. Jurisdictions may be reassessing fees since it's clear SolarAPP+ decreases the time and effort it takes to process permits.

In May 2021, NREL announced a memorandum of understanding with UL to further develop and commercialize SolarAPP+ to reach its goal of using the software to cover 90% of all residential solar + storage permits by 2030.

“Their credibility with installers, customers and local governments will help us build a scalable product, while instilling local government confidence in the automated code compliance checks at the heart of the application,” said Jeffrey Cook, NREL’s lead developer of SolarAPP+, in a press release.

Although some AHJs can be slow to adopt new technology, SolarAPP+'s government backing could help bring permitting reform to even the smallest cities.

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LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, THE SOLAR MARKET GRAPPLES WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES There are many factors contributing to the widespread supply chain disruptions affecting industries worldwide.

Import tariffs and a global pandemic are at the heart of the issue. For the photovoltaic solar industry, there are also alleged human rights violations and additional trade regulations preventing import of widely produced solar modules.

While the U.S. solar industry breaks installation records year after year, solar equipment manufacturers and suppliers are navigating a supply chain riddled with bottlenecks. Import tariffs on specific solar modules have increased the price of that vital component. Then, the alleged forced labor practices in Xinjiang province of China have prevented solar panels containing polysilicon

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harvested there from reaching U.S. soil. China is responsible for producing 80% of the world’s polysilicon, and half of that comes from Xinjiang.

In February 2018, the Trump Administration tariffed crystalline silicon cells and modules and AC/integrated modules by 30% with the intent to bolster domestic module manufacturing. That tariff is scheduled to sunset in 2022, its fourth year. But the International Trade Commission recommended another four-year extension of Section 201 tariffs on solar cells and modules. The tariffs have repeatedly changed for bifacial modules, with the most recent ruling exempting them again.

COVID-19 has posed an existential threat to the personnel responsible for maintaining the supply chain,

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2022 TRENDS IN SOLAR

Kristina Gain

and with the proliferation of another highly contagious strain of the virus, that squeeze on the supply chain remains indefinitely. During the 2020 COVID lockdowns, manufacturing ceased or was curbed and substantial shipments by sea were canceled. The shipping industry is still recovering.

“The supply chain has become less dependable,” said Jonathan Doochin, CEO of solar equipment distributor Soligent. “It has become less dependable, and sourcing products in a timely fashion with accuracy across a multitude of SKUs has required specific purchasers to understand the microeconomic factors in supply chain issues, in specific verticals and specific product lines. Though each one faces similar issues, each supply chain is a bit different with its own quirks.”

This supply chain chokehold comes at a time when federal legislators are attempting to pass the Build Back Better Act, an economic overhaul that includes incentives and goals that would greatly increase solar deployment in the country.

Increasing consumer demand in solar and federal renewable energy goals are putting a strain on other raw materials necessary for manufacturing accessory technologies for solar installations. Warehouses and distributors have had to increase purchases of solar equipment where possible, making it harder to source hardware.

“Availability matters. If somebody shorts on availability in this market, as a manufacturer it can change the outcome of the market share pretty substantially,” Doochin said.

While deliberation on the BBB Act continues, the U.S. solar industry pushes forward. SEIA and Wood Mackenzie reported in September that solar accounted for 56% of new electricity capacity installed in the first half of the year in the United States.

Despite a monumental need for deployment, many of the affected solar modules will remain in shipping yards.

Manufacturers will try to find ways to meet that demand.

“The world is facing an inflationary cycle that, without price-fixing salaries, will inflate input cost,” Doochin said. “We’re in a secular inflationary cycle that reminds me of the 1970s.”

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Availability matters.

If somebody shorts on availability in this market, as a manufacturer it can change the outcome of the market share pretty substantially.

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TOP-MOUNTED SOLAR ATTACHMENTS GAIN MORE TRACTION Back in 2012, solar mounting manufacturer QuickBOLT developed an attachment for PV projects on shingled roofs that didn’t require the conventional metal sheet for flashing. Although it wasn’t the first roof attachment to do so, QuickBOLT popularized minimal flashing and attaching straight through asphalt shingles instead of prying them up and sliding metal flashing sheets underneath.

In the years following release, other manufacturers in the solar mounting market have released their own versions of top-mounted attachments with different methods for flashing, such as chemical sealants and rubber pucks. Through 2021, top-mounts continued to rise in popularity.

Solar mounting and racking manufacturer SunModo had to double production capacity of its NanoMount attachment three times in the last year. The company has already sold 750,000 units of NanoMount since its debut in 2020, and general manager Steve Mumma said it’s substantially outpacing SunModo’s traditional flashed attachments for composition shingle roofs.

“The biggest problem we’ve had with them all year is getting enough of them,” he said. “We just keep increasing production capacity and the market catches up to it.

It’s been a hard year in that regard, because we think next month we’ll be caught up, but by the time we get caught up we’re behind again.”

The appeal of top-mounts is they remove a time-consuming

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aspect to installing on comp shingle roofs. Each shingle is attached to the roof with multiple nails, leaving installers responsible for prying them up to slide metal flashing underneath. Depending on the condition of the roof, shingles can break in the prying process.

With top-mounts, installers generally locate a rafter, drill a pilot hole, fill it with sealant and secure the lag and flashing — no shingle removal necessary. Certain manufacturers have developed top-mounts that work on the roof decking as well, reducing the risk of missed pilot holes. Although installers are drilling through shingles, manufacturers believe there is less risk for damage to the roof using top-mounts.

The smaller overall footprint and fewer components in topmounts means reducing shipping costs and fewer trips up the ladder to the rooftop for installers.

Manufacturers expect more installers will continue to shift to top-mounted solar attachments.

“I think the trend would definitely indicate that the market is moving that way,” Mumma said.

“I wouldn’t say we’d ever see the traditional full-sized flashing disappear because there’s probably going to be some jurisdictions that require it and there’s always going to be some installers that just prefer it.

But in terms of market share, I think we will see the market continue to move toward a product like NanoMount.”

JANUARY 2022

SunModo

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2022 TRENDS IN SOLAR

THE ERA OF VIRTUAL POWER PLANTS IS HERE While the battle between utilities and residential solar owners is often widely publicized — solar owners want compensation for their production, utilities aren’t too sure — one thing not making headlines is utility hatred of customer-sited energy storage.

In fact, more utilities are grouping residential batteries into virtual power plants (VPPs) and paying customers for the opportunity to call on their stored energy when the grid needs it most.

It’s a considerable change in utility thinking that is sweeping the country.

From progressive utilities in the Northeast to grid operators desperate for quick reliability fixes in the West, VPPs are a win-win on both sides of the electric line. Utilities get access to thousands of mini power plants and clean energy without building their own substations, and customers get extra benefits from their emergency backup resources.

Utilities usually first establish their VPPs and then work with battery suppliers for interaction protocols.

For example, Arizona Public Service has initiated a pilot VPP program that currently only works with Enphase and SolarEdge batteries. Pacific Gas and Electric has its own pilot program, but only with LG and SolarEdge batteries.

More utilities in the Northeast are setting up bring-your-own-device VPPs, and payout is determined by the brand of battery and how much it is used.

Swell Energy acts as an aggregator for the utility and battery owners, making sure both sides receive their benefits. CEO Suleman Khan said VPP relationships are increasing rapidly across the country and Swell is curating consumer-sited resources in a manner

www.solarpowerworldonline.com

most valuable to the utility.

“The recent commissioning of several high-capacity VPPs has introduced a new asset class (with multiple revenue streams) to the capital markets. Technical innovation has led to financial innovation and is now redefining how we finance distributed energy resources as VPP portfolios,” he said. “With this comes the opportunity to reshape the energy landscape over the next decade in a manner that shatters the renewable glass ceiling, reduces the need for centralized power plants, preserves open space and habitat and is inclusive in its benefits across the socioeconomic spectrum.”

Although that extra compensation for helping green the grid isn’t yet a driving force for residential battery adoption, more battery owners may sign on to VPPs if the stand-alone storage ITC is passed in the BBB Act. As the tax code stands now, a battery can only take advantage of the ITC if it is 100% charged by solar panels for a determined amount of time (often five years). If the battery participates in various demand arbitrage situations — and charges via the grid at a time when electricity rates are low and sun exposure is limited, for example — then it forfeits its right to claim the ITC. This makes participating in utility-run virtual power plants impossible until

the battery finishes its five years under the “ITC contract.”

But if batteries can receive the ITC on their own (as is written in the draft of the BBB Act), then solar charging isn’t a requirement, and homeowners can receive both the tax credit and compensation for participating in a VPP on Day 1. And more utilities can take advantage of decentralized power banks.

“With battery storage, homeowners gain energy independence and control for their household, even as blackouts and power shut-offs increase,” said Peter Faricy, CEO of SunPower, after announcing SunPower’s SunVault battery was accepted to Northeast VPPs. “Now with the SunPower VPP, our customers can choose to participate in programs that will help stabilize the grid for their community while simultaneously offsetting the cost of their system. Citizens and utilities working together to provide reliable and renewable energy is the future of the grid.”

Swell Energy

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CONTRACTOR'S CORNER

KELSEY MISBRENER • MANAGING EDITOR

CONTRACTOR’S CORNER:

New Era Electric Southern California contractor makes risky upfront investment to jump into C&I solar market Sean Bright has worked as an electrician since graduating high school, eventually landing in the commercial electrical space working on high-rises and restaurants. He was aware of the solar industry’s presence in Southern California, but like many electricians he knows, he thought it was gimmicky and nonviable.

But that changed after a conversation with his best friend over at solar carport company M Bar C. In this episode of the Contractor’s Corner podcast, Bright talks about taking a big risk to start New Era Electric in 2020 amidst a constrained labor market and how his

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company has found its niche in the small C&I market.

An edited portion of the interview is below, but be sure to listen to the full podcast for more insight on building a new solar company that stands out in a saturated market.

Find the Contractor’s Corner podcast on your favorite podcast app.

How did you get into solar?

I’m a lifelong electrician — somehow, it’s been 30 years, I don’t know how that happened.

It was interesting, because I’d say about 10 years ago, when I was really introduced to solar, I kind of felt solar was a gimmick. As an electrician, I think there was this sense that solar electricians

JANUARY 2022

weren’t real, and it was a gimmicky sort of thing, solar wasn’t going to last, we were the real electricians out there doing highrise buildings.

About six years ago, one of my best friends, who owns M Bar C Construction, we got to talking and I really discovered how lucrative the industry was. That time, it was dawning on me that this is here to stay. This is something we need, this is something that’s really good for not just the environment, but the construction industry as a whole.

In 2020, we decided to open New Era. We saw the need for this, we knew that there were contractors out there. I was able to really attract some good, talented people who specialized in the solar industry.

We knew what we were doing, and it’s just blossomed ever since then.

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CONTRACTOR'S CORNER

How was it hiring skilled workers in this industry?

The workers that I got almost put us out of business, to be honest with you. When I started this under a different name five years ago, it was me and two people and we were not necessarily focused on solar, but we had the opportunity to go solar.

There was a company, and they’ll remain nameless, that went out of business right at the same time. I had two employees and they had about 25. So, me and my partner decided we were going to hire every single one of those people, and we had one job. And that one job was I think 500 kW or something like that. We literally put 25 people on one job because we had nothing else for them while we were building up our backlog. It was a big expense, but we saw an opportunity there that we just felt we couldn’t pass up and we just truly believed that opportunity was going to come.

It almost put us out of business because of that lag between hustling to get contracts and get those jobs going. In the solar world, these jobs don’t start very quickly. There’s a lot of loopholes that you have to get through, so we’ll hear about a job and it’ll start four months later. In my background, it wasn’t like that.

We would hear about a job and they’d want you there the next day, that’s how fast the commercial electrical world was when you’re doing high-rises or restaurants or something like that.

But that’s how we just we blossomed into a 25-person company overnight. It was still tough to get all those guys working, but we saw the need. Labor in California is tough, so it was like, well, we’re going to get these guys or they’re going to be gone tomorrow, so we have to make a decision really quick.

Now, the work is abundant and they’ve seen that and it’s very rewarding to them. SPW

www.solarpowerworldonline.com

In the solar world, these jobs don’t start very quickly. There’s a lot of loopholes that you have to get through, so we’ll hear about a job and it’ll start four months later.

Podcast Alert!

Listen to this and other Contractor’s Corner episodes on your favorite podcast app.

JANUARY 2022

SOLAR POWER WORLD

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The solar industry is constantly evolving into emerging markets through product innovation. Success would not be possible without the ingenuity and determination of our leaders. These individuals and companies are working for the growth of the entire solar industry.

The future of the industry will build on the foundation of today’s efforts. Solar Power World would like to acknowledge such achievements on the following pages. These accomplishments in racking and mounting, inverters, modules and more are what drive those gigawatts and create jobs.

We think they deserve recognition from you, too. Vote online through October for one or more of the companies listed in this special section.

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JANUARY 2022

VOTE ONLINE

www.solarpowerworldonline.com/leadership

Voting for a company will identify it as a leader in the solar power industry.

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SETTING THE BAR WITH ADAPTIVE SOLAR MOUNTING. AceClamp® manufactures fast-installing, precision-engineered metal roof clamps for SSMR, membrane, slate, and asphalt that are compatible with almost any roof type.

Our patented non-penetrating “slide-pin” metal roofing clamp eliminates the need for set screws, helping to protect the metal roofing panel’s finish from installation damage. AceClamp® manufactures solar mounting systems, like our fast-installing rackless Solar Mounting Kits or our L-Foot Kit for use with racking systems. Both kits utilize identical, non-penetrating roofing clamps for convenience. Simplify your inventory with one clamping system for all rooftop needs.

AceClamp® is a manufacturer of precision-engineered snow retention and solar mounting systems, like our fast-installing rackless Solar Mounting Kits. Today, AceClamp is setting the bar in solar racking with its most recent innovative product called Solar Snap™. Solar Snap is an Adaptive Solar Racking System designed to work with any of our SSMR clamps, and MCP (Membrane Coated Plate) - making it an ideal solution for almost any roof type. Solar Snap uses our ever-popular, fully-assembled, non-penetrating Ace clamps. Assembly is a breeze, just snap-in pre-assembled components along the rail and secure.

Our fully-assembled component groups get you off the roof faster, while our unique, cross-platform system adapts to all roof types creating less inventory to maintain.

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We offer unique clamping systems that are compatible with almost any roof type. Our patented non-penetrating “slide-pin” metal roofing clamp eliminates the need for set screws, helping to protect the metal roofing panel’s finish from installation damage.

AceClamp® is always looking for new opportunities to collaborate with our industry partners and bring new and innovative technology to the market.

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Voting for this company will identify it as a leader in the solar power industry.

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Allied Moulded Products, Inc. (Allied Moulded) is the Contractor’s Choice of nonmetallic electrical boxes and enclosures in today’s residential, commercial and industrial markets.

Leveraging more than half-a-century of experience, headquartered in Bryan, Ohio, Allied Moulded has grown to become the benchmark of USA-made quality within the electrical industry.

Manufacturing Nonmetallic Electrical Boxes & Enclosures Allied Moulded’s achievement of ISO 9001:2015 certification is a testament to our company-wide commitment to providing our customers with a quality product. Our full-service molding operation includes expertise in compression and injection molding, using thermoset and thermoplastic materials, as well as our unique resin transfer molding process. Utilizing a modern, automated assembly process, we are pleased to provide our customers with a superior product at a competitive price.

Allied Moulded’s industrial enclosures can be found all over the world in many different control applications such as industrial & manufacturing plants, waste water treatment, wind turbines, security, SCADA, solar, marinas, data and telecommunications, mining, and more. Allied Moulded’s extensive line of NEMA type 4X/IP66 fiberglass reinforced

Allied Moulded Products, Inc. 222 North Union Street Bryan, OH 43506 United States Phone: (419) 636-4217 Fax: (800) 237-7269 Email: sales@alliedmoulded.com

polyester (FRP) enclosures, made with our proprietary ULTRAGUARD® resin formulation, outperform our competitors in the areas of: yellowing, gloss retention, discoloration and change in texture. With a wide range of sizes, accessories and customizations available, Allied Moulded offers a complete solution to your industrial enclosure needs. In addition to fiberglass, Allied Moulded also offers our POLYLINE® series, a line of polycarbonate, injectionmolded enclosures.

www.alliedmoulded.com

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The product line includes fuses up to 1500V, circuit breakers, busbars, DC-UPS devices,

Industrial Enclosures

panel meters, high-voltage terminal blocks, contactors, motor disconnect switches, pin 35 Royal Road Flemington, NJ 08822 Phone: 1-908-806-9400 Email: info@altehcorp.com www.altechcorp.com

& sleeves, receptacles, foot switches, many types of relays, push buttons. Also available are metal detection systems, ferrules, marking & engraving systems, fuses, power distribution blocks, tubing, liquid tight strain reliefs, timers, test & measurement, LED panel lights, thermostats, panel filters, tower lights & wire ducts. Altech’s products meet UL and many international standards and all are RoHS compliant.

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Aptos Solar Technology is a U.S. based solar technology provider committed to producing innovative and affordable solar solutions. Aptos Solar Technology panels are optimized with patented Dual Nano Absorber (DNA) technology which allows the panel to operate at high efficiencies in extreme temperature environments.

Now offering microinverters, Aptos Solar Technology is focused on bringing solutions that minimize clipping and maximize AC power output to pair with its highperformance solar panels. To learn more about Aptos Solar Technology visit www.aptossolar.com, follow @aptossolar on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn.

aptos

TM

Solar for Innovators Aptos Solar Technology is a leading solar technology provider headquartered in Silicon Valley. With over 35 years of industry experience across the solar value chain, Aptos is pushing the boundaries when it comes to solar panel performance, aesthetics, and cost.

Aptos Solar Technology brings revolutionary technology advancements to the solar industry designed to empower solar contractors and end users. Its patented Dual Nano Absorber (DNA) technology lies in the solar cell. Aptos has taken the best of PERC and bifacial technology and stacked intrinsic layers of negatively charged atoms between sublayers to produce a highefficiency solar cell with heightened heat tolerances, all while driving the cost of manufacturing down. Its line of DNA solar panels is powerpacked and beautiful. The panels feature much more than a sleek design, the panels undergo extensive long-term reliability testing to ensure optimal performance for 30 years. Aptos Solar Technology solar panels have been tested to surpass industry standards by 3X and are proven to perform excellently in extreme weather conditions. The top tier panels feature an industry leading 25 year product warranty and a 30 year power performance warranty.

solar technology

Aptos Solar Technology (210) 558-2853 info@aptossolar.com www.aptossolar.com

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Aurora is the industry’s leading software platform for distributed solar and storage.

With Aurora, solar salespeople and designers can precisely calculate how many solar panels will fit on a property, forecast how much energy they will produce, estimate how much money the system will save the property owner, and generate sales proposals without ever having to visit the property itself.

To date, Aurora has been used to design over 7 million solar projects globally.

Aurora Solar Inc. 434 Brannan Street San Francisco, CA 94107 hello@aurorasolar.com www.aurorasolar.com F: https://www.facebook.com/aurorasolarinc/ T: https://twitter.com/aurorasolarinc L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurora-solar/

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SOLAR INDUSTRY LEADERS CHOOSE AURORA Aurora Solar has transformed how solar projects are designed and sold by developing never-beforeseen tools, improving accuracy, streamlining the industry’s workflow, and supporting time-saving integrations. Aurora’s features such as CAD modeling tools, automatic stringing and obstruction detection, remote shading analysis, LIDAR 3D data, utility and incentive databases, and validated shade reports, are allowing installers to move faster and close more deals. A process that used to require multiple software applications, hours of design work, and site visits, can now be completed remotely and more accurately in under 10 minutes with Aurora.

INDUSTRY LEADING ACCURACY Aurora’s effortless CAD modeling tools, remote shading analysis algorithm, and comprehensive imagery and 3D LIDAR datasets enable solar professionals to quickly create a 3D site model, assess the site’s solar potential, and design the optimal PV system all without leaving their desks. Horizon shading—the latest addition to Aurora’s suite of modeling tools and the first-ever automation of this functionality—is adding an additional degree of accuracy for solar production estimates by accounting for shading caused by surrounding terrain. With the most validated shading engine in the industry, Aurora makes accurate PV designs simple.

SOLAR + STORAGE PROPOSALS Calculating financial returns for solar customers has never been easier with Aurora. Using your PV system performance estimates and utility rates, Aurora’s financial analysis tools can model loans, leases, PPAs, and cash payments in seconds without spreadsheets. Your project’s data and financial analysis are seamlessly pulled into a customizable sales proposal, and you can get live PPA rates and apply for financing in-app. As of 2020, Aurora now offers a range of tools to easily size and quote a battery backup system in the same proposal.

WORLD-CLASS SUPPORT Aurora Solar’s team of experts provide firstrate support and offer on-demand, screen share help sessions. If a site is too difficult or you’re short on resources, with its 3D Modeling Service, Aurora Solar’s team will create precise 3D site models based on your request and send it straight to your account for review within a few hours. With a team of dedicated individuals who understand Aurora and can get an answer to any question quickly, you’ll be in good hands.

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Merging Cost Efficiency with Solar Optimization.

Baja Construction specializes in designing, engineering, supplying, and installing hightensile cold form steel and structural steel Solar Support Systems™. We customize your solar project to provide a high quality, cost effective structure, tailored to optimize specific structural objectives for commercial, municipal, and multihousing family developments. These projects include, Solar Carports, Ground-Mounts, Covered RV & Boat Storage, and Solar/EV Charging Stations.

After 40 years in the solar carport business, Baja Construction has streamlined the “Design to project execution” process, leading the solar carport industry and providing invaluable support to our clients nationwide.

BAJA CONSTRUCTION | is headquartered in Martinez, California. It’s from here that Founder and CEO, Bob Hayworth oversees operations that span across the country, and abroad. [The corporation also has satellite offices in Nevada and Southern California.]

Today, Baja Construction is a vertically integrated company! With its trademark Solar

Support Systems™ product line of structures branded under Baja Carports, the company is recognized nationwide for its strong presence in custom solar design-build carports and covered RV and boat storage. With over 500 MW PVs successfully installed, Baja Construction is a nationally recognized name brand and is gaining momentum internationally.

Baja Construction Co. Inc. Corporate Headquarters:

What sets Baja apart in the industry are its in-house designers, engineers, diligent project managers, and construction crews. Baja is a one-stop carport/canopy shop. They provide customers with one-on-one customized site plans that they pre-fabricate and install to steel structures. Baja’s steel canopy products meet the criteria of developers, architects, contractors, and end user’s specifications.

THE MISSION OF BAJA CONSTRUCTION | To provide the highest quality construction services and products to all project shareholders including municipalities, agencies, developers, designers, and contractors. We help clients achieve their project goals with creative, cost-efficient and custom solutions from inception to completion.

223 Foster Street Martinez, CA 94553 1-800-366-9600 1-925-229-0732 bajacarports.com

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In business since 1938, the four generation, family-owned company based in San Diego has earned countless recognition for electrical contracting excellence throughout the region. Just a handful of accolades include being named by Solar Power World Magazine the #2 California Electrical Subcontractor, #4 National Electrical Subcontractor, and the #3 National Solar + Energy Storage Installer.

Baker Electric, Inc WE EXCEL IN CREATING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE. For almost a century, Baker Electric has delivered electrical construction services throughout Southern California with uncompromising quality, innovation and integrity. Baker has become one of the nation’s most influential full-service solar contractors, delivering technically advanced Commercial and Utility Scale Solar and Energy Storage solutions to business, non-profits, military, education, utilities and others.

Baker Electric Renewables Contact: Michael Garro mgarro@baker-electric.com 760.690.5010 bakercommercialsolar.com

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What is the Baker difference? It’s simple. As is expected from a company with 84+ years of excellence under its belt, Baker recognizes the importance of investing in its people. From the field electricians to the administrative support team, it’s the people that come first. Even the company motto, “We deliver energy through people”, reflects Baker’s understanding of the fact that any successful company that prides itself on excellence is simply a sum of its parts.

With new opportunities popping up every day in this scaling economy, Baker Electric is excited to play a major role in the historic growth of sustainable energy in Southern California.

Setting an impressive industry standard since 1938, Baker’s breadth of experience and the depth of capabilities has them primed and ready to fulfill the demands of the current construction boom and beyond.

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Boker’s, Inc., is a woman-owned, AS 9100:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer of precision stampings, washers, spacers and shims.

To request a complimentary copy of the company’s 2022 Stampings & Washers Catalog and a 2022 Scheduling Calendar with Metric Conversion Chart, contact Boker’s at: bokers.com

With over 100 years of experience, Boker’s has earned the reputation as a stamping leader. They deliver precision stampings in a complete range of sizes: flat blanking and piercings up to 12” x 12” (flat) with thicknesses from .005” to .190” (varies by material) and draws up to 3” deep and 8” in diameter.

With numerous inside diameters, thicknesses and over 2,000 commonly specified and hard-to-find material options— including various types of steel, aluminum, brass, copper, nickel silver, plus non-metallic materials such as PTFE, polyester, fiber and nylon—whatever your requirements, if it can be stamped, Boker’s can turn it into the part you need.

Boker’s, Inc. 3104 Snelling Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55406-1937 Phone: 612-729-9365 TOLL-FREE: 800-927-4377 (in the US & Canada)

Boker’s also delivers a wide selection of standard and non-standard washers, spacers and shims. With over 32,000 stock tools, and outside diameters of .080” to 5.140” along with a variety of inside diameters, you have millions of flat washer possibilities.

All stampings, washers, spacers and shims are available in short, medium and long runs with a 100-piece minimum.

bokers.com

Boker’s also offers 3D printing for prototyping, complete Statistical Process Control (S.P.C.) capability, in-house tooling, and “Dock-to-Stock” and “Just-in-Time” programs.

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CAB® Solar Products are manufactured in the USA by the Cambria County (Pennsylvania) Association for the Blind and Handicapped.

Our manufacturing operations provide a safe, supportive workplace for our employees with severe disabilities, and help support many vital services for persons with vision loss.

Innovative CAB® Products are used worldwide in a range of industries from solar power to mining and tunneling, utilities to shipbuilding, custom sewing, assembly and more.

CAB® Products consistently exceed the most stringent quality standards of our national and international customers.

CAB Solar 211 Central Ave.

CAB® has a 45-year tradition of leadership in manufacturing durable, cost effective, and innovative cable management for the electrical and utility industries.

CAB®’s industry leading solar cabling systems deliver many advantages over trenching or cable tray. Project costs are far more predictable, with no delays, cost overruns or penalties due to flooded trenches, deep mud, hard rock or unforeseen site conditions.

CAB® Solar Hangers are quick and easy to install and provide safe, strong and long lasting support for all types of cables in tracker, ballasted and fixed tilt projects.

CAB®’s innovative multi-carrier hangers safely separate large bundles of DC feeders, string wires, data, AC and other cabling.

CAB®’s patented Integrated Grounding option offers dramatic savings in labor and material as it can also provide the EGC and GEC. Manufactured from galvanized, high-tensile strength spring steel, CAB® Hangers feature a heavy 80 mil thick PVC coating for added safety and protection of cables.

The durable PVC coating is flame retardant, high dielectric grade, and UV stabilized for long service life.

Available in single or multi-carrier styles, they are ideal for bifacial panels, as their low profile greatly reduces shadowing.

CAB®’s patented Torque Tube Hangers provide a tight, secure, snap-on fit over most torque tube or fixed tilt structures.

CAB®’s patented Solar Hangers have been installed in solar pv power plants across the US and around the world.

Johnstown, PA 15902 https://cabproducts.com/solar

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Chem Link Leads in Solar Market with E-Curb Systems Since its founding in 1990, Chem Link has focused on meeting the pressing needs of contractors, consumers and industries with its high-performance adhesives, sealants, coatings and related products. An idea company, dedicated to innovation and problem-solving, Chem Link joined the SOPREMA family in 2016, committed to continuing to provide its customers with quality products and customer service.

Since day one, Chem Link has been an environmentally conscious company. All of its internal processes are environmentally compliant, from product formulation through production and packaging. All products are solvent free and have a low VOC content, meaning they pose no threat to the installer and are environmentally friendly.

Chem Link

Chem Link—a formulator and manufacturer of high-performance adhesives,

sealants, coatings and related products for applications throughout the building envelope—is an industry leader because of its simple seal system for difficult roof penetrations – the E-Curb and ChemCurb Systems.

To protect the original investment of the roof, avoid callbacks and prevent damage caused by water, building owners and contractors should choose the most effective, proven, long-term penetration seals available: Chem Link’s ChemCurb and E-Curb Systems. Curbs can turn the weakest part of a building’s roof into the strongest.

•

Easy to install – normally fewer than 15 minutes per penetration

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Fits any size or shape penetration allowing for unlimited configurations

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Can be bonded to a wide range of surfaces

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Sealants and adhesives are 100% solids and do not shrink

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E-Curb and ChemCurb installations are impervious to ice, corrosion, UV light and ponding water.

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Adhesives and sealants are solvent-free and contain virtually no VOCS, minimizing health risks to contractors and building occupants.

Chem Link’s curb systems are ideal flashing systems for solar racking standoffs because they are efficient and easy to install, regardless of the installer’s skill set.

Curb systems are superior to other penetration seal systems that are notorious for corroding, are labor intensive and do not offer configuration flexibility. This system will save installers time and labor, leading to cost savings.

353 E Lyons St Schoolcraft, MI 49087 https://chemlink.com

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Three-Phase String Inverters For Every Project CPS America is a smart energy solution provider focused on value and performance for our rooftop, ground mount and utilityscale customers. We can serve customers efficiently from our strategic office locations on the East and West coasts, as well as in Texas. With more than 5GW installed across 10,000 solar plants in the U.S., and an exceptional engineering and service team, CPS America is ready to support your next smart energy project.

• Just introduced! The largest three-phase string inverter – 275kW 800V – ideal for utility and ground-mount applications • Best-in-class commercial rooftop solution using CPS 25-60kW inverters • FlexOM Gateway module allows for remote system diagnostics and updates • Service and support staff positioned strategically around the U.S. • On-site commissioning and inverter monitoring solutions available

For the past decade, CPS America has been focused on bringing the most reliable three-phase string inverter technology to U.S. customers. As we have expanded to 10,000 sites and more than 5GW installed, CPS America has come to be known as a leader in engineering, not only because of our unmatched inverter technology, but also because our engineering staff is unparalleled in the industry.

John Drummond, senior applications engineer.

We not only hire the best and brightest minds in the solar industry, but also those who are passionate about customer satisfaction.

A great example of this is John Drummond, senior applications engineer, and 6-year veteran of CPS America. When asked what a typical day looks like for him, he had this to say: “A typical day for me is assisting customers with their designs, using CPS products. It can be anything from reviewing specifications to be sure their designs are optimized, interconnect applications…certifications, or other types of information that might help them with their designs.” John continues, “I also co-manage our FlexOM product line, so it might be assisting customers with our monitoring packages, onboarding to our portal...I love helping customers.”

John not only takes great pride in delivering great service to customers, he is also a tremendous resource when it comes to onboarding new CPS America employees. New employees quickly feel comfortable asking John questions about string-inverter technology and the many other products and services that CPS America provides.

Chint Power Systems America 6800 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 235 Pleasanton, CA 94566 855-584-7168 americasales@chintpower.com www.chintpowersystems.com

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We’re committed to providing future generations with the means to power their lives in the most economic, environmental and socially responsible ways possible.

Energy Innovation for the Next Generation

EDF Renewables North America Headquarters North American Headquarters

EDF Renewables North America is a market leading independent power producer and service provider with 35 years of expertise in renewable energy.

The Company delivers grid-scale power: wind (onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic, and storage projects; distribution-scale power: solar and storage; and asset optimization: technical, operational, and commercial expertise to maximize performance of generating projects. The Company’s PowerFlex subsidiary offers a full suite of onsite energy solutions: solar, storage, EV charging, energy management systems, and microgrids. EDF Renewables’ North American portfolio consists of 20 GW of

developed projects and 13 GW under service contracts. EDF Renewables North America is a subsidiary of EDF Renewables, the dedicated renewable energy affiliate of the EDF Group.

Our purpose is to build a net zero energy future with electricity and innovative solutions and services, to help save the planet and drive wellbeing and economic development.

15445 Innovation Drive San Diego, CA 92128 888-903-6926 info@edf-re.com

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EKO Instruments USA Inc. Over 90 years of Japanese reliability & precision in solar energy sensors, environmental science, and material analysis. (“EKO”) designed and built instruments are deployed throughout the United States and around the world, supporting environmental research and renewable energy projects through continuous innovation, industryleading turn-key solutions, and an uncompromising commitment to quality.

In 2016, EKO Instruments re-invented the pyranometer, launching the MS-80, the first IEC 61724-1 Class A compliant and ISO 9060:2018 Spectrally Flat & Fast Response Class A sensor in the world.

Today, we continue to lead the industry with an unbeatable range of sensors and solutions that help our customers to deliver clear ROI and achieve their goals.

Find out more @ www.eko-usa.com.

Where EKO Instruments leads, other solar sensor manufacturers, follow. Since 1927, EKO has established a history of firsts, time and again redefining expectations for scientific instruments, pushing the limits of accuracy, build quality, speed, and functionality.

In 2013, EKO Instruments became the first solar sensor manufacturer in the world to achieve ISO 17025 accreditation at our international testing and calibration laboratory in Tokyo, Japan and today, EKO is still the only manufacturer to own and operate its own PV plants.

More than a unique testbed for research & development, our solar parks have a combined annual power generation capacity of nearly 2.8 GWh and give us a unique understanding of the challenges our customers face, helping us to develop the solutions they need to achieve their goals.

solar-powered vehicles. Through the EKO | EMPOWER programme, we work with leaders in solar car development and provide industry-leading environmental instruments and support to young engineers and teams worldwide, including America’s No.1, the University of Michigan Solar Car Team.

Our vision, to ‘lead with commitment, inspire with innovation, and engineer solutions for a more sustainable world’ will guide the next 100-years of EKO engineering, building on the standards that, for nearly a century, have driven us to develop industry-leading sensors, instruments and solar energy monitoring solutions.

As the solar energy industry continues to grow and evolve, so too has EKO, with a focus on small to utility-scale PV and the rapid development and diversification in solar energy applications, especially

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EcoFasten has established a reputation for being one of the industry’s leading innovators by providing expert solutions for mounting solar PV on any roof. Our broad portfolio of solutions stems from the direct needs of our solar PV installers. We take pride in providing the right solution for every application.

PATENTED WATERTIGHT TECHNOLOGY & FAST INSTALLING SOLAR

Our founding principle is and has always been to manufacture easyto-install, 100% watertight solar roof mounts and attachments. EcoFasten has been an innovative leader in the rooftop solar mounting & racking industry for over 15 years. Over time, our customers have come to know EcoFasten as a trusted and reliable brand that provides the peace of mind that their solar installations will remain durable and watertight throughout the life of the roof.

FOR INSTALLERS. BY INSTALLERS.

Since 2007 EcoFasten has developed our products hand in hand with those on the roof – solar installers.

Our innovative product offering has been tailored to meet the needs of all installers on a wide variety of roofs. At EcoFasten, we are focused on designing fast installing solar mounting systems and solutions while providing quick delivery, outstanding customer service, and on-going support.

EcoFasten 4141 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 2 Phoenix, AZ 85009

EXCEPTIONAL PRODUCTS & SERVICES

(877) 859-3947 ecofastensolar.com

Our wide variety of solar roof mounts, flashings, and interchangeable compression brackets give installers maximum versatility for quick, easy solar installs. The EcoFasten brand stands for quality, reliability, and complete customer satisfaction. We strive for excellence in everything we do.

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Fortress Power manufactures safe Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries for residential and commercial applications.

We are based out of Southampton, PA, where we have a 30,000 SqFt main facility and also have 2 warehouses in Texas and Florida. Our mission is to provide compact, user-friendly, and affordable energy storage solutions using the latest technology for all homes and businesses.

Adding Fortress Power Energy Storage to your solar PV systems enables you to maximize the use of your clean solar energy by storing excess solar for use at night.

Fortress Power is an industry leader in renewable energy because we are committed to providing safe, reliable, best-in-class solar storage solutions.

Our batteries are engineered using the latest lithium technology, intelligent digital processor battery management, and integrate with the most popular inverters and solar systems on the market.

Fortress Power 505 Keystone Rd Southampton, PA 18966 https://fortresspower.com

With large capacity and the ability to scale, our batteries provide affordable, user-friendly storage options. Whether you are looking to save money during peak usage periods, establish independence from the grid, or simply gain peace of mind during power outages, Fortress Power has you covered.

We pride ourselves on our first-class customer service and support, building trust and loyalty among solar installers and homeowners alike.

Based in the United States, our engineering and support team is available when you need them and continues to provide the education and training needed for quick and easy installation.

Secure your energy with Fortress Power.

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Franklin Whole Home Technologies, Ltd. Designed with homeowners in mind, Franklin Whole Home has designed a forward-thinking storage system that ensures home comfort while anticipating future energy savings. Founded in 2019, the leadership team has an average of 20+ years in storage and power electronics and a track record of success deploying large-scale projects for global fortune 500 customers. FranklinWH delivers a fully autonomous experience with its touch-free, intelligent whole home power backup and load control solutions. Learn more about how homeowners can achieve energy freedom at www.franklinWH.com.

Franklin Whole Home Technologies, Ltd. 1 Sansome Street Suite 3500 San Francisco, CA 94104

Uniquely Intelligent Storage for the Whole Home

FranklinWH goes well beyond the demand for safe, reliable back-up. Our powerful performance stems from integrating the highest AC battery capacity on the market with the industry’s most intelligent controls.

Franklin’s Whole Power system combines its aPower lithium iron phosphate battery and aGate smart energy management device (EMD) to provide uniquely smart storage.

Skillfully using adaptive learning algorithms, aGate manages the most complex load scenarios effectively. This gives it the unique ability not only to safeguard the main panel but also to integrate three additional large loads of the homeowner’s choice, such as solar, HVAC, pool heating, electric vehicle, generator, or any other large appliance. Our user-friendly app lets homeowners modify consumption or sell power back to the grid at peak rates.

Engineering leadership outperforms industry standards

+1 888 - 837 - 2655 info@franklinwh.com

As one of the only manufacturers of residential battery technology to design and produce nearly all of its components inhouse, FranklinWH ensures higher reliability

www.franklinwh.com

and performance than competing systems assembled from multiple sources. The system is backed by a 12-year warranty — two years more than the industry standard — and a bankability report from DNV. The aPower battery is compatible with any PV inverter technology to connect easily with existing solar systems and can scale up to 15 units for a total of 204 kWh for maximum comfort. Pre-assembled, the system’s one-step “roll-and-hang” design streamlines installation.

FranklinWH powers potential. Go to franklinWH.com for whole-home storage to energize your fullest life.

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GoodWe USA Inc. - Power Whenever You Need GoodWe is a leading, strategically thinking enterprise which focuses on research and manufacturing of PV Inverters and energy storage solutions. With an accumulative installation of 23 GW installed in more than 100 countries, GoodWe solar inverters have been widely used in residential and commercial rooftops, industrial and utility scale systems, ranging from 0.7kW to 250kW. GoodWe offers reliable operation and excellent performance and is well recognized by customers worldwide.

GoodWe’s philosophy is to always create win-win partnerships with customers by identifying and integrating the most advanced components and techniques available while offering an unparalleled after-sales service.

Technological innovation is GoodWe’s main core competence. With an in-house R&D team of approx.

500 employees in two R&D centers, GoodWe can offer a comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions for residential, commercial and utility scale PV and storage systems, ensuring that performance and quality go hand-in-hand across the entire range.

GoodWe USA Inc.

8 - (

8 - (

3478 Buskirk Avenue, Suite 1000 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 http://www.goodwe.com

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The World’s No.1 Residential Inverter Supplier Growatt is one of the global leading PV inverter and storage battery manufacturers.

According to IHS Markit, the company is the world’s No.1 residential inverter supplier and also ranks among the global top 5 suppliers of commercial inverters. Additionally, for storage hybrid inverters, Growatt is the second largest supplier in the world according to Wood Mackenzie.

Established in 2010, Growatt provides a broad portfolio of products and solutions including residential, commercial and utilityscale PV inverters, energy storage, microgrid systems and smart energy management solutions. The company has had its presence in the United States since 2013 and has expanded its US team in recent years to serve American customers with dedicated local

Growatt is one of the global leading PV

inverter and storage battery manufacturers.

According to IHS Markit, the company is the world’s No.1 residential inverter supplier and also ranks among the global top 5 suppliers of commercial inverters. Additionally, for storage hybrid inverters, Growatt is the second largest supplier in the world according to Wood Mackenzie.

Established in 2010, Growatt provides a broad portfolio of products and solutions including residential, commercial and utility-scale PV inverters, energy storage, microgrid systems and smart energy management solutions.

To ensure product quality, Growatt has introduced a comprehensive quality control system, the Five-Step Quality Engineering System, which includes Design Engineering, Component Engineering, Test Engineering, Reliability Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering.

Dedicated to technology and product innovations, Growatt invests heavily in research and development. The R&D team at Growatt has more than 400 professional engineers. Growatt has received ‘All Quality Matters’ awards by TÜV Rheinland for its commercial and industrial inverter - MAX series and residential storage battery – AXE series, both of which achieve first-rate performance in the organization’s PVE Test Program.

support.

Growatt usa@ginverter.com

Over the years, Growatt has built strong and experienced local teams in key solar markets with an extensive service network of 23 offices worldwide. The company has had its presence in the United States since 2013 and has expanded its US team in recent years to serve American customers with dedicated local support. By the end of 2021, Growatt had shipped around 3.7 million sets of inverters and battery systems to more than 100 countries.

www.growatt-america.com

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D N A E L G O O G , E APPL

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K2 Systems, LLC is dedicated to advancing solar energy installations by offering cutting edge mounting systems for solar technology. K2 Systems, formerly known as Everest Solar Systems, continues to improve its broad portfolio of industryleading mounting solutions for residential, commercial, and utility scale solar deployments.

The mission of K2 Systems is to offer innovative mounting solutions backed by world class quality, engineering and customer support. Based in Oceanside, California, the company will support North America’s long-term market development with a broad set of capabilities including local product development, sales, applications, project services, manufacturing and sourcing operations.

K2 Systems continues to expand worldwide

K2 Systems began in Germany in 2004 and has since spread across the globe with 10 offices worldwide and installations in over 130 countries. The US branch opened in 2012 as Everest Solar Systems.

They were able to secure the K2 name last year and will be celebrating their 10th anniversary in the US in March.

K2 Systems is founded on simple, easy to install products and great customer service.

K2 Systems is dedicated to making your PV installation and planning as easy and fast as possible, so that we can further expand renewable energies worldwide!

Learn more about the K2 Systems global brand by scanning the QR code.

Our products have always been distinguished in the mounting systems market by their exceptionally fine design and high functionality. New developments are tested extensively before product release. We subject every design to thorough structural and electrical validation.

Every design detail is refined to provide maximum user friendliness. As a result, you experience proven high quality and functionality from a design that matches your high demands. Our users experience these benefits when installing our systems.

K2 Systems, LLC

Highest quality standards & ease of assembly

4665 North Avenue, Suite I

Our systems are easily adapted to meet a variety of snow, wind and other project conditions.

Using 6000 series aluminum and stainless steel for our components provides a high resistance to corrosion, durability, and long-term system reliability. K2 Systems stands for secure attachments, high quality, and precisely manufactured components. Minimal component count, well thought through assembly details, and the simplicity of our mounting systems minimize your $/Watt.

Oceanside, CA 92056 +1.760.301.5300 K2-systems.com

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M Bar C Construction is proud to specialize in solar & non-solar carports, fabric & steel canopies, DSA structures, parking garage canopies, and renewable energy solutions from coast to coast.

M Bar C teams thrive in creating the most effective and innovative solutions to your commercial shade structure projects. M Bar C provides cost-effective carport and shade solutions while never compromising quality.

With over four decades of installation experience, M Bar C Construction has installed more than 750 megawatts of renewable energy. We are honored to support our partners in the combined goal of building a better future.

Learn how M Bar C Construction can support you in building a better future today.

If it’s made of steel and covers from the sun, M Bar C Construction can build it.

M Bar C Construction provides our partners with superior solutions tailored to your goals from start to finish.

We are proud to have been voted “Solar Power World’s 2021 Installation Leader in Solar”.

M Bar C Construction 1770 La Costa Meadows Dr. San Marcos, CA 92078 (760) 744-4131 mbarconline.com

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Mana Monitoring One platform to Monitor Them All Mana Monitoring is a hardware agnostic solar energy monitoring and management platform. With an ever-changing solar PV landscape, Mana works with asset owners solar O&M companies in order to aggregate and centralize their portfolio for maximum uptime, off-taker billing, O&M coordination ensuring a peak performing renewable energy portfolio.

Find out more @ www.manamonitoring.com Mana Monitoring grew out of the dynamic commercial solar industry in Hawaii. Leading the nation in solar per capita and one of the most diverse landscapes in solar installations. With a clear goal of providing solar companies and asset managers a hardware agnostic software to monitor all solar PV systems in one platform, regardless of the make/ model of meter, inverter and onsite equipment. Over the past decade Mana has built out one the largest equipment interface libraries enabling the integration of virtually any inverter and meter allowing solar companies the independence to select the equipment best suited for a specific project. Mana is used to monitor nearly 1 GW of solar across North America and the Caribbean.

Recently winning the Made in America Solar Prize from NREL for grid integration, Mana continues to provide advanced solutions for integrating solar assets into a single platform.

Mana Monitoring info@manamonitoring.com 808-650-3913

Mana’s engineering solutions are built on top of a secure and reliable platform that natively provides solutions for solar and load monitoring, submetering, battery integration and EVSE management. Mana platform provides a secure database and field mobility tools to coordinate asset managers with field crews to ensure maximum uptime of solar assets and succinct work-order management in a central platform.

Solar companies that take pride in their work chose Mana to integrate their portfolio of solar pv systems because of the seamless interoperability with virtually all inverters, whether brand new or legacy. www.solarpowerworldonline.com/leadership

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Established in the late 1800s, Megger has been the premier provider of electric test equipment and measuring instruments for electrical power applications.

The trademark was first registered in May 1903 and is guarded by the company.

Although we’re best known for our world famous range of insulation testers, Megger provides a full service solution to meet your electrical test and measurement needs. Manufacturing insulation testers is where Megger started; the Megger brand name is so well known today that maintenance professionals often incorrectly use it as a verb when they refer to doing an insulation test on wiring. This famous name dates back to 1889, when the first portable insulation tester was introduced with the MEGGER brand name on it.

At Megger, we understand that keeping the power on is essential for the success of our customer’s business. That is why we are dedicated to creating, designing and manufacturing safe, reliable, easy-to-use portable test equipment backed by worldleading support and expertise.

We can assist your acceptance, commissioning and maintenance testing for predictive, diagnostic or routine purposes. By working closely with electrical utilities, standards bodies and technical institutions, we contribute to the dependability and advancement of the electrical supply industry.

We focus our expertise in developing innovative testing solutions that are world class in safety, performance, reliability and easy to use. Megger is committed to providing our customers with measurement results and insight to make informed decisions about their assets, increasing uptime and safety.

Megger 866-254-0962 megger.com

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Offer solar financing options with confidence Mosaic makes financing solar, solar plus energy storage systems, and other sustainable home improvements accessible and affordable for homeowners by providing a fast and easy way to apply for financing options. Customers are referred by approved solar installers and home improvement contractors, as well

Mosaic: A leader in solar Mosaic was one of the first to pioneer solar lending by combining one of the industry’s first 20-year solar loans with a fully digital financing experience. By simplifying the consumer credit application experience and delivering financing options in the home at the point of sale, Mosaic made solar ownership accessible and affordable. They were also one of the first to introduce a

as other ecosystem partners, and get a

battery-only loan and a 25-year solar loan

credit decision in minutes for no money

— and to enable the purchase of solar with

down loans with fixed interest rates and multiple term options. For their network of thousands of solar installers and home improvement contractors, Mosaic provides a streamlined financing platform to drive sales growth. Since 2012, Mosaic has helped more than 185,000 households switch to sustainable home improvements.

other improvements like a new roof or energy efficient windows and doors.

Lower monthly payments Mosaic is the #1 issuer of solar loan bonds in the market and has been offering solar financing options longer than anyone else, which gives them years of historical data.

They have built strong relationships with capital markets, which recognize Mosaic’s consistent performance and disciplined approach. This results in a lower cost of funds, which allows Mosaic to pass along lower dealer fees to solar installers and lower monthly payments to homeowners.

Some of the best approval rates

Mosaic

Having more solar loan data than anyone

joinmosaic.com/solar

else in the industry also means that Mosaic

855-746-7849

has some of the best approval rates. They also have a less than 5% stip rate with more than 90% of stips reviewed within 10 minutes.

That means solar installers can offer Mosaic financing options with confidence — knowing more of their customers will get approved with fewer stipulations. The Mosaic platform makes it simple to pre-qualify customers and

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offer a range of competitive APRs and low monthly payments.

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Nine Fasteners, Inc. owns and distributes their proprietary line of stainless steel solar wire management clips. In addition to their standard line of wire management clips they also offer customized solutions where needed.

All of Nine’s clips are manufactured completely in the U.S. and all include rolled outer edges for maximum wire safety. All of Nine’s wire management clips are UL Listed for use within solar installations.

Nine Fasteners was the first stainless steel wire management clip manufacturer/distributor to use a rolled outer edge on their clips, preventing the fraying of wire coatings. Nine Fasteners was also the first manufacturer/distributor to receive UL compliance for use of their clips within a solar installation.

Nine Fasteners, Inc. 233A South Street Hopkinton, MA 01748 United States www.ninefasteners.com/index.html

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OMCO Solar is the nation’s premier manufacturer of solar racking and tracker solutions for community, commercial, industrial and utility-scale projects. Our expertise in fixed tilt and single axis tracker systems stems from decades of steel manufacturing, beginning in 1955 when OMCO Holdings was founded. Since then, more than 9 GW of OMCO Solar mounting, racking and tracker solutions have been installed in 30 states across America, bringing clean solar energy to

OMCO Solar believes in accepting accountability for all aspects of our work and continuing to demonstrate responsibility to the solar industry through our customer service, sales, engineering and manufacturing. We lead by example, working to meet and surpass the unique challenges and requirements of each project. We’re willing to take the hard road every time if necessary to ensure the end project satisfies both the client and our partners.

our farms, schools, healthcare facilities, municipalities, and transportation infrastructure.

OMCO Solar 4550 W Watkins St.

We pride ourselves on our honest, upfront communication, so when we say we have the shortest lead times in the industry, we consistently deliver on this promise. In addition, we provide high-quality products with customized designs and flexibility for customers. This is evident by their feedback.

Phoenix, AZ 85043 602-352-2700 info@omcosolar.com omcosolar.com

“What I like about OMCO Solar is that they lived up to their word; they made a commitment to us, and they executed on that commitment. Even with challenges, they were open and honest and we worked together as a team to solve them.”

– Edwin Perkins, President of Moss

As a leader, OMCO Solar brings people together for the greater good. We know that succeeding with our partners is critical to coming together to mitigate the climate crisis and achieve a greater goal.

“We understand what it takes to make a partnership work – communicating, adapting, executing, debriefing, repeating – and OMCO Solar does too. We appreciate the value of partnering with such a driven and determined team, and we think both companies complement each other well.” – Helge Biernath,

President and CEO of Sunstall

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PLP mounting systems are backed by over 70 years of US manufacturing experience.

EPCs and installers from coast to coast can depend on PLP’s high strength roof, ground and pole mount solutions along with our industry leading customer service and application support.

PV Mounting Solutions for any Application

Since 1993, PLP has been designing and manufacturing innovative solar mounting solutions for utility-scale, commercial, and residential PV applications. Tested in our lab and proven in the field, PLP’s high-strength mounting solutions are engineered to exceed expectations. Many of our solar racking systems arrive pre-assembled for quick installation and are manufactured in the USA at our Albemarle, North Carolina facility. PLP’s products are in compliance with code requirements and are backed by our industry-leading customer service and experienced technical support.

Roof Mount Systems include:

POWER RAIL™ — Residential and Commercial POWER MAX™ — Ballasted Commercial Ballasted POWER RAIL™ — Commercial Global Headquarters 660 Beta Drive Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143 Telephone: 440.461.5200 Fax: 440.442.8816 Website: plp.com Email: info@plpsolar.com

Ground and Pole Mount Systems include:

Solar Carport — Commercial POWER PEAK™ — Utility Scale, Commercial and Residential Kits Ballasted POWER PEAK™ Multi-Pole Mounts (MPM-G2) — Commercial and Residential Top-of-Pole Mounts (TPM) Side-of-Pole Mounts (SPM) You can always count on the reliability of our USA manufactured products, and the dedicated service of our people, day in and day out, year after year.

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Leading Innovator of solar carport solutions Award-winning carport racking company, Quest Renewables, is regularly recognized for its innovative carport products and projects by Solar Power World and throughout the solar industry.

Quest’s team is comprised of solar industry veterans and thought leaders, and its QuadPod™ solar canopies lead the industry in delivering the lowest total installed system cost, while delivering larger project sizes than

Lower project costs

traditional solar carports.

Quest’s solar canopies reduce overall project costs, increase installation speeds, and offer safer construction. Quest has developed projects across the US, while maintaining the highest standards of quality. All system components are manufactured in the USA.

Quest Renewables solar canopies allow solar developers and EPCs to develop projects with better profitability. QuadPod solar canopies allow for the placement of more panels on any given site, increasing the overall energy output. During construction, Quest systems require half of the foundations and half of the labor time of traditional systems. Quest works with developers and EPCs to leverage local construction teams to reduce overhead and further improve project returns.

Safer construction

With over ninety percent of construction taking place on the ground, the construction team is more efficient. The overhead work is minimized, and worksite safety is optimized.

Quest Renewables’ commitment to improving the total installation process results in more satisfied contractors, developers, and property owners.

Faster installation

Quest Renewables 75 5th Street NW Atlanta, GA 30308 https://www.questrenewables.com

Quest Renewables’ QuadPod solar canopies enable rapid installation with a repeatable, straight-forward construction deployment process. QuadPod solar canopies require fewer foundations, and ninety percent of the construction activity takes place on the ground, significantly increasing the speed of project completion. During the on the ground assembly of the canopies, inverters and panels are mounted, and wiring and lighting is completed. The final step in the construction process is lifting the system by crane for final attachment to the foundations.

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Solutions that are Straight to the Point QuickBOLT has always believed solar mounting should be easier for the industry.

What have they done to make that happen?

They have been changing the game for 10 years with their innovative line of mounting solutions. In that time, they have created an impressive catalog to supply the widest range of solar roof mounts in North America. From their patented BoltSeal® and Microflashing® products, to the custom production services they offer, they have

Commitment to Solar Installers QuickBOLT solar solutions are designed with installers in mind. Solutions that solve real-world problems and help installers save time and money. QuickBOLT has focused on offering straight-forward solutions since they entered the industry over a decade ago.

been working with solar installers to make solar installations easier than ever before.

Their experienced team is available Monday

Installers have been putting QuickBOLTs on roofs for the past 10 years, and with ZERO reported leaks in that time. Skip the chemical sealants for their Intertek lab and field tested BoltSeal® solution.

through Friday from 7am to 5pm PST to answer any questions you may have.

Check www.quickbolt.com to find a salesman near you.

QuickBOLT Corporate Office 5830 Las Positas Road Livermore, Ca 94551 (888) 567-0832

Don’t ever worry about losing business because your solutions are high-maintenance, because QuickBOLT is dedicated to designing products for installers that are easy to use, help cut costs, and deliver quality.

Every year since then they have demonstrated their commitment to installers by releasing new or updated products that provide benefits every day. The newest innovation is the QB2 and the apex of their BoltSeal® technology that seals mounts at the point of penetration.

www.quickbolt.com

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Trusted Solar Innovator REC Group is an international pioneering solar energy company dedicated to empowering consumers with clean, affordable solar power through highquality solar panels with a leading power density. As Solar’s Most Trusted, REC is known for its patented innovations and multiple award-winning products with reliable long-term performance. The cornerstone for REC’s strong reliability is advanced and highly efficient manufacturing using Industry 4.0 practices. Founded in 1996 in Norway, REC has always been committed to a low carbon footprint in its solar materials and panels. REC is headquartered in Norway with operational headquarters in Singapore and regional hubs in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Over its 25-year history, REC has consistently set new standards and introduced numerous innovations in the solar PV industry. Founded and headquartered in 1996 in Oslo, Norway, REC has grown to become a credible advocate for the global energy transition and green economy by strongly focusing on highly innovative solar technology. Among REC’s key innovations are the award-winning split cell and junction box technology in a patented twin panel design as well as the lead-free and RoHScompliant REC Alpha Pure solar panel, based on the advanced heterojunction cell technology.

By providing high power density solar panels with a reliable long-term performance and a comprehensive warranty, REC makes it easy for homeowners and businesses to benefit from significant savings on electricity costs and carbon emissions.

REC’s advanced manufacturing techniques and its low carbon footprint silicon production in Norway allows consumers to even further minimize their personal environmental footprint.

REC Group +1 877 785 8055 www.recgroup.com

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The Future Of Vegetation Management Is Here Renu Robotics’ Renubot is a fully-electric autonomous vehicle designed specifically for precision vegetation management on utilityscale solar power plants and other energy facilities.

In short, Renu Robotics has developed an innovative solution that puts technology to work for you.

The Renubot can mow day or night, is safe and reliable and significantly cuts vegetation management costs and carbon emissions.

When it’s finished mowing for that cycle, it returns to its Recharge Pod to replenish its battery and remain secure in changing climate conditions. Our solar charging skids allow the bots to be deployed anywhere in a stand-alone configuration and Mission Control continuously monitors, controls and updates the bots in the field.

Renu Robotics is revolutionizing the way solar and energy facilities conduct vegetation management. The Renubot is the game changer that asset owners and O&M providers have been waiting for to solve various vegetation problems.

The Renubot is a fully-electric mower that has a number of technological and communications capabilities that result in an autonomous vehicle unlike anything on the market today.

But Renu Robotics’ innovations don’t stop at the Renubot. When it’s finished mowing for that cycle, it returns to its Recharge Pod to recharge and get updates for the next mowing cycle. Our solar charging skids allow the bots to be deployed anywhere in a carbon-free and stand-alone configuration.

Renu Robotics 12918 Delivery San Antonio, TX 78247 https://renubot.com

Mission Control continuously monitors, controls and updates the Renubots in the field. System access allows for updates, programming and adjusting maintenance schedules day or night. At any time, asset owners and O&M providers can monitor performance, location and schedules with computers, tablets and cell phones.

Mission Control gives owners and operators peace of mind with a secured and encrypted data flow indicating how their facilities are being maintained.

As word spreads about the Renubot, more and more asset owners and O&M providers are realizing that Renubot can significantly cut maintenance costs and give them an invaluable carbon-free solution to their continuous vegetation management problems.

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Roof Tech is the global pioneer in solar flexible flashing. We have been engineering solar mounting solutions since 1994 with flawless performance—over one million rooftop installations all over Japan and North America. We are offering a 25-year warranty on all our products from the date

Roof Tech is the first U.S. subsidiary of Yanegiken, a company renowned in Japan for more than four decades of innovative roofing technologies. Roof Tech’s legacy is linked directly to Yanegiken Technology and Research Institute, founded in 1968 to conduct research and develop new roofing technologies. Roof Tech U.S. brings these unique P.V. mounting solutions to the U.S. solar market. Headquartered in Southern California, our national sales teams are now in place to provide superior service to installers and solar panel manufacturers throughout the U.S. We aim to minimize the environmental impact of our products, and we comply with all environmental regulations.

of installation. We do not rely on sealants for solar P.V. mounting on asphalt, membrane, or metal roofing. We partner with over 40 distributors throughout North America and offer full support with installation manuals, installation videos, digital estimator design tools, and in-person training. Download our P.E. Stamped letters in over 35 states and five Canadian territories that are IBC and IRC compliant. If you want the authentic,

RT-MINI II The second-generation self-flashing mounting base for conventional rail mounting systems with a more efficient design utilizing less raw materials.

waterproof flexible flashing that has captured 70% of Japan’s solar P.V. racking market, choose Roof Tech.

Roof Tech

The Standard for Waterproof Flexible Flashing Since 1994.

Roof Tech

RT-APEX Advanced rail-less and self-flashing PV mounting system

RT-REB (Roof Entry Bracket) 100% waterproof wire entry system

10620 Treena St. Suite 230 San Diego, CA 92131 roof-tech.us

Solar Panel Mounts and Racking Products Request Samples

Products

Digital Estimator

Contact Us

Please visit our shop for all products needed for solar mounting.

Get ahead of all your projects with our RT-APEX Estimator.

(858) 935-6064

roof-tech.us

design.roof-tech.us

sales@roof-tech.us

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S-5! Solar PV Mounting Solutions for Metal Roofs In 1992, S-5! invented the very market

space of manufactured roof attachment solutions. S-5!’s clamps and brackets are engineered for a variety of applications, including residential and commercial solar installations on exposed-fastened and standing seam metal roofing.

The company has a portfolio of more than 3.6 GigaWatts of rooftop solar arrays, including many Fed-Ex and Walmart buildings; 700 Costco stores in eight countries; international airports; and corporate headquarters for Google, IBM, NATO, NREL and Apple. S-5! technologies are also affordable for domestic applications with more than 15,000 such solar installations in 50 countries.

8750 Walker Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80908 United States http://s-5.com

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Endorsements from every major metal roof manufacturer, extensive load-testing and 3.6 GW of engineered PV installations prove S-5!’s durability and explain its use in critical applications like fall restraint and snow retention. S-5!’s commitment to excellence is evidenced by industry leadership in ASTM, ASCE, SEIA, MBMA, NRCA, MCA and CSI. Principals of S-5! have won lifetime memberships with trade groups and numerous industry awards for their contributions, including 100+ technical writings, training curricula and standards development. Their research, lectures and papers have been translated into eight languages and won esteemed recognition from ASTM, MCA UWMadison and CSI.

PVKIT® & ProteaBracket

As PV industry advocates, S-5! team members chair the SEIA Mounting Systems Mfg Committee and MBMA/UL Non-Combustibles Working Group, improving metal roof/PV construction codes and standards. They serve on 6 UL 1703/UL 2703 task PVKIT® EdgeGrab groups and the Standard Technical Panel. S-5! has worked extensively with other countries such as Australia (Univ Adelaide), Germany (Univ KIT, DIBt), and the UK (MCS 012 Mounting Mfrs). They have also worked with CEIR/NRCA, and AHJ’s such as DSA, LA Co/ City, and Miami Dade to educate users on the marriage of PV to metal roofing while preserving roof integrity.

When track record, installation ease, product integrity, economic value and true technical competence are the objectives, S-5! offers metal roof attachments The Right Way!®– for any metal roof, every time.

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Drone-based solar software Scanifly is the leading drone-based solar software focused on automating and streamlining the survey and design stages of a solar project’s life. Solar contractors in nearly two dozen countries use Scanifly’s platform to triple their surveying capacity, while keeping two feet on the ground and eliminating redesigns.

Contractors submit an approved onsite shading analysis, automatically export perfect layouts to AutoCAD and SketchUp, and share 3D models with customers. Additionally, Scanifly offers a free solar drone certificate training program, which over 750 solar professionals have

Scanifly has been the leading force to integrate

already enrolled in.

drones into residential and commercial solar project workflows. As the only photogrammetry platform exclusively created for solar project development, Scanifly empowers contractors to leave their ladders, tape measures and sketch paper behind for new technology and a streamlined process.

Scanifly 1105 Edinburg Windsor Rd Hightstown, NJ 08520 http://scanifly.com

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With a staff of all former solar professionals, Scanifly is a leader in publishing articles, ebooks and other content to educate the industry on technological solutions. Under its Surveyor Associate Program, Scanifly offers a first-of-its-kind, free certificate for aspiring solar drone pilots. It also teaches courses annually for NABCEP and SEI, which all combine for up to 5 hours of NABCEP CE credits. Over the last two years, over 3,000 solar professionals in 80 countries have expanded their knowledge and skills from Scanifly’s materials.

Across nearly 100,000 projects on the platform, Scanifly users have reduced their survey and design time by up to 90%.

Scaniflyers on average survey 5-10 sites per day, with the record being 26 projects. Contractors can cut insurance premiums by up to 15x by keeping workers off the roof until construction. Scanifly offers the leading shade analysis tool available, combining the benefits of real time, automatic and 3D data, with a digital, web-based solution. It is the only drone-based shading tool approved by regulators and lenders across the US.

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Snake Tray® is the leading designer and manufacturer of cable management solutions for commercial and utility grade solar installations. Snake Tray products are specifically designed with features to substantially reduce the total cost of construction. Key features of the Solar Snake Max XL™ trenchless system, include the open-air design which eliminates the need to de-rate cables which can harvest up to 8% more energy.

Snake Tray’s 407 Series hand bendable cable tray has a “lobster trap” design to secure cables and is the ideal solution for roof tops and car parks. Lean on Snake Tray’s engineering know-how to help develop the ideal solution for your next

19 9

project.

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INNOVATING CABLE MANAGEMENT FOR SOLAR Snake Tray® has been designing and manufacturing cable management solutions for over twenty-five years in a wide range of industries including solar. Our patented products are created to lower labor and material costs. Leading corporations, organizations and government agencies across the globe rely on Snake Tray for their cable management requirements. Products are made in the USA.

0 21 2

YEARS Snake Tray® 291 Skip Lane Bay Shore, NY 11706 www.snaketray.com

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The Joy of Solar.

The Power of Simple.

Founded in 2009, SolarPod has always endeavored to set the gold standard in solar racking. By simplifying solar installation, reducing the number of components and ensuring versatility in application, SolarPod is leading the rooftop solar racking solution in innovation and cost effectiveness.

Today this Minnesota based solar pioneer has over 1100 installations in 40 states and 2 countries.

SolarPod’s innovation includes Zero Roof holes and Zero use of fossil fuel products such as caulking compounds that are made with fossil fuels as the precursor.

Z-Rack – No Roof Holes, Sloped Roof Solar

This is the only, revolutionary racking system that allows solar panels to be installed on sloped and gabled roofs without holes. The patented system uses a counterbalance design engineered to stay securely attached to the roof. The Z-Rack system is UL listed, wind tested and has been installed in hurricane regions such as Tampa FL..

1. Installs on any roof material.

2. One SKU for all roof materials.

3. Easy training of crew. No need to search for rafters.

4. Simplest removal and reinstallation.

5. No fossil fuel used. No caulking compounds.

SolarPod

Z-Lite – No Roof Holes, Flat Roof Solar

This patented innovation allows for flat roof solar without roof holes. Moreover, it eliminates 95% of the concrete ballast required by conventional solar. Z Lite requires only 5.5 psf of roof load at 10 deg tilt making it the lightest weight flat roof solution.

Z Lite savings come in many ways such as reduced installation labor time, reduced trash (since minimal ballasts used) and versatile installation on many roof materials.

Simply put, conventional roof solar systems are expensive, cumbersome to execute and can damage your roof. Z-Rack and Z-Lite are affordable, simple to install and common sense. Of course, you get quality service back up.

1230 East 115th St Burnsville, Minnesota 55123 https://mysolarpod.com/

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Small Components. Big Impact.

Stäubli Electrical Connectors - the first to design and patent the MC4 connector technology. With over 25 years of experience in the photovoltaics industry, we make the decision easy when it comes to choosing products for your PV connection needs. To date, Stäubli has installed over 485 GW of PV power, or more than 50% of the PV power worldwide. Our MC4 Inline Fuse utilizes a crimped fuse connection which guarantees a long-lasting, stable connection for solar installations. Rely on Stäubli’s innovative MULTILAM Technology for trusted results that keep your PV installation up and running efficiently and safely.

Stäubli Electrical Connectors 100 Market Street Windsor, CA 95492 PH: 707-848-0530

Experienced Partner Our more than 25 years of experience and massive track record of 485 GW in connecting complex photovoltaic (PV) systems worldwide enable us to create long-term value for you – together with you.

With quality product solutions and services for eBoS (electrical Balance of Systems) applications in PV plants, we make your project reliable and efficient. Individually tailored to your needs, we provide you with all the relevant elements for perfect collaboration as your partner of choice.

Photovoltaic connectors may be small components, but they have a big impact and directly influence the bankability/LCOE of a PV plant. The use of reliable, long-lasting Stäubli photovoltaic connectors guarantees low service cost, low power losses and reduced downtime due to their low contact resistance, as well their elimination of risks for hotspots and fire.

The first industrial photovoltaic connector (MC3) was introduced by Stäubli in 1996 followed by the original MC4 in 2004 setting the industry standard ever since. The exclusive MULTILAM advanced contact technology raised the bar in terms of consistent quality and outstanding reliability.

Our attention to detail builds trust.

And trust builds best results. At Stäubli Electrical Connectors we make the decision easy when it comes to choosing products for your PV connection needs.

With our wide range of connectors and cables we can get any type of PV installation connected to the sun.

Rely on Stäubli Electrical Connectors innovative MULTILAM Technology for tried and trusted results that keep your PV installation up and running efficiently and safely.

E: ec.us@staubli.com www.ecs-ecart.com

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SunModo, meaning “the way of the sun,” is a private U.S. company headquartered in Vancouver, Washington that is focused on innovative racking and mounting solutions for professional installers in the fast-growing solar industry. Energized by a desire to make solar installation easier, more reliable and more affordable, our solar racking solutions are at work in 15 countries, and from Hawaii to Connecticut.

Our commitment to innovation can be seen across our entire product line, which includes 20 plus industry-shaping patents.

Mounting equipment have a significant bearing on the speed and reliability of solar installation. At SunModo, we are constantly engineering new mounting solutions to make solar installation easier, more reliable and more affordable.

SunModo’s innovations range from solving simple challenges to creating new applications.

Our wide variety of attachments makes easy work of any watertight rooftop installations.

Our new SMR System represents a huge leap in racking technology. Optimized design makes the SMR Rails not only the lightest but also the strongest rails on the market. One tool assembly and Pop-On technology allow fast and worry-free installation. Pair SMR with one of our industry leading mounting options and save money and time on your residential solar installations.

What sets us apart: We respect the installer. We think of our business as getting you on and off the roof or job site quickly with innovative, reliable racking solutions that perform flawlessly for years and years with no callbacks.

Together, let’s harness the sun to power our world.

SunModo 14800 NE 65th Street Vancouver, WA 98682 www.sunmodo.com

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The SMR System

NanoMount

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Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd Sungrow is the world’s most bankable inverter brand with over 182 GW installed worldwide as of June 2021.

Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters, with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 25-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 150 countries. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com.

Sungrow has been engaged in new energy power generation for more than 25 years. Our products and services cover more than 150 countries. Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters, with a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions.

As a leader of innovation in the solar industry, Sungrow possesses a dynamic technical R&D team which consists of over 2100 employees.

The Company has also invested its own in-house testing center approved by SGS, CSA, and TÜV Rheinland. In 2019, Sungrow launched the world’s largest inverter factory. The company’s global annual production capacity reaches 90 GW, including 10 GW of India factory.

Sungrow Americas info@sungrowamericas.com

Offering a wide range of solutions and services, Sungrow is committed to providing clean power for all and is steadfast in its efforts to becoming the global leader of clean power conversion technology. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com.

www.sungrowpower.com

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Terrasmart - creating powerful connections for all Terrasmart is a leading provider of solar racking technologies, electrical balanceof-system products, installation services, and project optimization software - SIFT. Serving the commercial and utility sectors across North America, Terrasmart integrates products and solutions across the PV lifecycle to minimize risks and maximize returns. With over 19 GW’s of solar deployed across 4600 PV systems, Terrasmart creates unique value for more profitable solar anywhere.

Terrasmart’s mission is to power its people, partners and the world forward.

Through forging powerful connections and engineered solutions, Terrasmart is creating advantages that will deliver stronger outcomes for its customers’ projects and portfolios.

A partnership with Terrasmart results in a trusted, consultative advisor both now and over the long-term. Our combined resources, scale, products and services allows us to deliver what our customers expect: a partner that can execute your projects with the best possible returns, fast. And because of our history, footprint and scale, Terrasmart anticipates what is coming next. As the industry’s only company to offer both a driven pile and ground screw foundation solution, Terrasmart offers a unique advantage to support both fixed tilt and tracker applications. With Terrasmart as your partner, you’ll have access to a full suite of products and services supporting projects of any size - all delivered with the personal touch and expertise that have made us someone you trust.

Our integrated solar journey offers powerful ROI though each project phase dependent upon our customers’ project needs. We begin with the intelligent project optimization software to help guide asset owners and developers at the start of a project and then can customize our racking and eBOS solutions across portfolios that are in different geographical locations. We value-engineer each project to reach its performance goals. Integrating products, processes and people in a holistic project experience is how Terrasmart delivers unique value for its customers and is what sets us apart as an industry leader.

Terrasmart 14590 Global Pkwy Fort Myers, Florida 33928 www.terrasmart.com

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Connecting Today To Power A Better Tomorrow Voltage, LLC, founded in 2015, is a national supplier of high-quality solar wire and harness solutions for the utility scale solar industry.

The Chapel Hill, NC based company will have delivered over 12GW of products to date by the end of 2021. For more information on Voltage, LLC and its products, please refer to www.voltage-llc.com

In the fast-paced solar industry, Voltage has established its position with professional focus and discipline mixed with the personal touch of an agile company that is responsive to the needs and recommendations of our customers. We are engaged from pre-construction and customized manufacturing through to the delivery and installation of every project.

Voltage utilizes state-of-the-art 3D rendering/modeling programs in a variety of ways that are beneficial to our customers. When needed, we offer several designs during the proposal phase, allowing clients to consider the varying options that may be available. Simulating onsite designs enables engineers to pinpoint variables and address challenges more accurately before the first wire is installed. Voltage also offers virtual reality pre-construction training, saving the project time and money.

Voltage, LLC 1450 Raleigh Rd, Suite 208 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517 https://www.voltage-llc.com/

The hallmarks of the “Voltage Experience” for our customers are professionalism, reliability, and the ability to deliver on lead times and manufacturing capacity. We strategically plan and execute sustainable growth patterns that result in the continual high-quality output necessary to meet market demand for our innovative products.

The drive to help create a clean energy future for everyone is a primary tenet of the vision here at Voltage. Innovative strategies are implemented consistently to exceed industry standards and create leading edge technologies that reduce costs and installation timeframes. With over 12GW of clean energy products provided, Voltage is proud to partner with our customers and power the country towards a sustainable energy future.

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WAGO Corporation provides North America with innovative Interconnect, Electronic Interface, and Automation products and solutions. As a leader in industries such as utilities, buildings, marine, lighting and renewable energy, WAGO features state-of-

From residential, C&I, and utility grade products for monitoring and control, as well as PCB solutions for EV charging and board level connections, WAGO provides answers for all of your renewable energy assets.

the art warehousing and customer support in

Recent Innovations:

the USA.

WAGO’s Devices on the Cutting Edge of Network Computing

Headquartered in Germantown, WI, WAGO provides extensive engineering resources, a 25,000+ product portfolio, custom manufacturing, and a global network of dedicated professionals ensuring they have the resources and expertise to help you get the job done. To see our capabilities in action, watch the video at www.wago.us/ capabilities.

WAGO is combining the advantages of decentralized Cloud computing with local control networks by debuting their new Edge Controller and Edge Computer. These devices for edge of network computing provide low latency control and simplified connection with Cloud based services providing multiple interfaces for connection to field devices and monitors. https://www.wago.com/us/edge-devices

WAGO TOPJOB® S Rail-Mount Terminal Blocks offer three actuation variants

Choose from lever, push-button or open tool slot for wiring your SCADA panels. All variants come with WAGO’s patented CAGE CLAMP® Technology to ensure a reliable, maintenance-free connection. For compact spaces where standard DIN Rail is not available, the TOPJOB® S Terminal Blocks come in a mini version with all the features of standard terminal blocks. https://www.wago.com/us/topjobs

Unmatched Reliability - 221 Series Lever Nuts®

WAGO’s 221 Series Splicing Connector allows for an easy combination for different wire sizes and types from 24-10 AWG for maximum convenience. Quickly and easily connect all wire types of different sizes using 2-, 3-, and 5-wire connectors for pass-through or combiner box. https://www.wago.com

WAGO Corporation N120W19129 Freistadt Rd Germantown, WI 53022 1-800-DIN-Rail www.wago.com/us info.us@wago.com

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WECS Renewables, a primary supplier for utility scale solar, provides electrical material for construction of the balance of system and power production equipment including PV, solar thermal, trough solar and concentrated array systems.

WECS is a primary source for utility scale solar O&M at all voltages. WECS has developed numerous proprietary products and continues to innovate in the industry.

WECS Renewables Capabilities • Team: Technical experts with engineering capabilities for identifying best solutions • Inventory: Vast Inventory covering from panel to Substation connections • Same Day Shipments: Our West Coast warehouse can provide same-day shipments across North America • Experience: Over 35 years of experience in planning & supplying renewable projects • OEMs Prefer WECS: Deep relationships with best manufacturers - best pricingacross globe • Additional WECS Differentiators: WECS Renewables 19392 Ruppert Street, N. Palm Springs, CA 92258 760.251.0040 info@wecsrenewables.com

- Custom tailored kitting

- Engineered solutions customized for specific application - Comprehensive sourcing - including alternate solutions - Project support and material management

WECS’s technical knowledge of operating systems and components allows us to understand and plan for both the product need and the product application.

Example Solar Products (LV/MV Gear, PV connections, DC Feeder, Cable Management, Collector Materials, Substation Equipment and connections, Wire & Cable, Fuses)

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AD INDEX

LEADERSHIP TEAM VP of Sales Mike Emich 508.446.1823 memich@wtwhmedia.com Managing Director Scott McCafferty 310.279.3844 smccafferty@wtwhmedia.com EVP Marshall Matheson 805.895.3609 mmatheson@wtwhmedia.com Associate Publisher Courtney Nagle cseel@wtwhmedia.com 440.523.1685

SALES Jim Powers 312.925.7793 jpowers@wtwhmedia.com Ashley N. Burk 737.615.8452 aburk@wtwhmedia.com Jami Brownlee 224.760.1055 jbrownlee@wtwhmedia.com

AD INDEX AceClamp ......................................................... 46 Allied Moulded Products .................................. 16 Altech Corporation ............................................. 3 Aptos ................................................................. 65 Aurora Solar Inc. ............................................... 32 Baja Carports ..................................................... 27 Baker Electric .................................................... 15 Boker’s, Inc. ...................................................... 23 CAB Solar ........................................................... 29 Chem Link .......................................................... 57 Chint Power Systems ........................................... 1 EcoFasten an ESDEC Company .......................... 28 EKO Instruments ............................................... 64 Fortress Power .................................................. 54 FranklinWH ....................................................... 53 Goodwe ............................................................. 49 Growatt ............................................................ IBC IMT Solar ............................................................ 13 K2 ...................................................................... 71 M Bar C .............................................................. 52 Mana Monitoring ................................................ 69

Megger .............................................................. 37 Mosaic ............................................................... 41 Nine Fasteners ................................................... 63 OMCO ............................................................... 59 Preformed Line Products ..................................... 36 PV Labels ..........................................................IFC Quest Renewables .............................................. 35 Quickbolt ............................................................. 5 REC Group (Americas) ...................................... 61 Renu Robotics .................................................... 26 Rooftech ............................................................ 47 S-5! Attachment Solutions ................................... 44 Snake Tray .......................................................... 40 SolarPod ............................................................ 13 Staubli ................................................................. 7 Sungrow Power Supply Co. ...............................BC Sunmodo ........................................................... 45 Terrasmart .......................................................... 17 Voltage, LLC ....................................................... 33 WAGO Corporation ............................................ 21 WECS ................................................................ 39

LEADERSHIP PROFILES AceClamp ......................................................... 77 Allied Moulded Products .................................. 78 Altech Corporation ........................................... 79 Aptos ................................................................ 80 Aurora Solar Inc. ............................................... 81 Baja Carports .................................................... 82 Baker Electric .................................................... 83 Boker’s, Inc. ...................................................... 84 CAB Solar .......................................................... 85 Chem Link ......................................................... 86 Chint Power Systems ......................................... 87 EDF ................................................................... 88 EKO Instruments ............................................... 89 EcoFasten an ESDEC Company ......................... 90 Fortress Power .................................................. 91 FranklinWH ....................................................... 92 Goodwe ............................................................ 93 Growatt ............................................................. 94 K2 Everest Systems ........................................... 96 M Bar C Construction ....................................... 97 Mana Monitoring .............................................. 98

Megger ............................................................. 99 Mosaic ............................................................ 100 Nine Fasteners ................................................ 101 OMCO ............................................................ 102 Preformed Line Products ................................ 103 Quest Renewables .......................................... 104 QuickBOLT ...................................................... 105 REC Group (Americas) ..................................... 106 Renu Robotics ................................................. 107 RoofTech ......................................................... 108 S-5! Attachment Solutions .............................. 109 Scanifly ........................................................... 110 Snake Tray ....................................................... 111 SolarPod ......................................................... 112 Staubli ............................................................. 113 SunModo ........................................................ 114 Sungrow Power Supply Co. ............................. 115 Terrasmart ....................................................... 116 Voltage, LLC .................................................... 117 WAGO Corporation ........................................ 118 WECS .............................................................. 119

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